Bar Talk: The Monro Pub On Their First South Slope Year

Congratulations are in order for Vinny Evans and Nicole Fusco-Evans, husband and wife owners of The Monro Pub (481 5th Avenue, between 11th and 12th Street), as they mark the bar’s one year anniversary on June 1. We sat down with Nicole this week to talk about their first year in business, party plans for this weekend, and (most importantly) the crazy delicious meat pies that they’ve brought into our lives.

SSN: First of all, tell us a bit about yourselves.
MP: Vinny and I have been married for 8 years and been together for 13 years. We live in Bay Ridge but spend 90% of our time Park Slope.

Have you always had aspirations of opening a pub?
Yes, Vinny has worked in the industry for 12 years, and we always knew that one day we would open our own place.

Did you have your eyes set on a business in South Slope, or were you looking at other neighborhoods?
We did look at other neighborhoods in Brooklyn but something always drew us back to Park Slope. We have friends in the neighborhood and felt that this is where we needed to plant our roots. We love South Slope and can’t be happier with our choice. We have been so lucky to have the neighbors that we have. Everyone has been so helpful when we need it, full of insight and very embracing. We couldn’t have picked a better area! I feel like our neighbors are all in this together. We have really felt the love and it’s awesome!

How did you come up with the name The Monro Pub?
It’s a bar in Liverpool where I met Vinny in January 2000 when I was on vacation. That bar is named after a merchant ship that, ironically, would travel from Liverpool to New York transporting goods. We never thought of any other name for the bar! We always knew if we opened a business, it would have to be called The Monro.

What was the opening like?
The opening was surreal! We couldn’t believe we finally did it! With all the hard work and money, this was OURS! We owned a bar. Even to this day, it’s still kinda crazy thinking we’re business owners!

We seriously fell in love with your chicken and mushroom pies at Taste of 5th Ave. Can you tell us a bit more about the pies and how they found their way to The Monro?
When we were opening we knew we wanted some kind of British food to go with the whole feel of the place. I researched British pies and found this wonderful Mom and Pop company in Buffalo, NY. They are a husband and wife team and make the most amazing traditional pies ever! The English Pork Pie Company hits the nail on the head every time!

After one year, does the pub still look and feel the way you guys envisioned it?
Yes, the pub is taking on its own sense of community. We have the most loyal and incredible regulars, maybe because we spoil them but either way, they are the root of out business and we can’t thank them enough. When you greet customers and are nice to them, people come back! We feel it’s turned into what we want, that neighborhood pub, somebody’s “local,” as the Brits call it.

Do you ever get tired of working together?
Sometimes! We have been working side by side, every day for the past year and half. However, I don’t think I would be able to do that with anyone else. We are a good balance for each other. Though I have no experience in the bar business, as I’m a nurse, I was good at doing all the paperwork, and Vinny is amazing at doing all the actual bar stuff. We are a great team!

What does the future have in store for The Monro?
We really take every step as it comes. The bar business can be ruthless, and we don’t want to count our chickens before they hatch. That said, we want to keep our customers happy, continue to make friends, and embrace this roller coaster ride.

Tell us about the big anniversary party!
We have our 1 year anniversary party this Saturday night, June 1st around 9pm. We want to thank our patrons for the past year! They are the ones who this party is for! We are catering a few heroes from our friends at Zito’s Sandwich Shoppe. Those guys over there are awesome and their sandwiches are kick ass! We’ll be offering some drink specials for the night, and there will be cake! Who doesn’t love cake??? Another addition to the night will be karaoke! Karaoke is ridiculous, fun and overall embarrassing, I can’t wait!