'E' is for Irish

By most accounts, the opening of the Block E entertainment complex in 2001 has been a mixed bag. Old-timers remember the "old" Block E as either a blighted hellhole in downtown Minneapolis, or a character-packed haven of edgy shops and bars. In truth, it was a mixture of both. But the infamous bar Moby Dick's -- where one could allegedly trade an Alcoholics Anonymous token for a drink -- was torn down for a Hooters. The performance and arts space Rifle Sport (an '80s-punk staple) was eventually replaced by a Hard Rock Cafe. Make what you will of the tradeoffs, but a basic element is now missing: personality. The hope is that the relocation of Kieran's Irish Pub to Block E this month will finally provide just that.

"Strategically, [Block E's] location is fantastic," says Kieran's owner, Irish pub impresario Kieran Folliard. And he's right. On Tuesday, Folliard's flagship pub will trade its old location in a quiet corner of downtown for the heart of the entertainment zone, flanked by the Warehouse District, Target Center and the Theater District. The Twins' new home, Target Field, is mere blocks away, offering 81 pre- and post-game drinking opportunities a year -- a booze peddler's dream. But the same location was also theoretically great for Borders, Escape Ultra Lounge and Bellanotte -- all recent Block E casualties. "Obviously, it's had challenges," Folliard says of his bar's new home. "But at the same time, if it didn't have a few of those challenges we probably wouldn't have gotten this opportunity."

Kieran's new location, inside the former Bellanotte, is not just an opportunity for the pub, but a new direction for Block E. As it now stands, Block E possesses a movie theater and a few chain restaurants -- let's pick that apart. With a limited number of downtown residents, the complex's success hinges on 2.5 million other metro dwellers as well as tourists. But an Applebee's? A multiplex? Folks in Plymouth and Eden Prairie already have those options, and don't need to waste parking expenses and gas to get to them. Block E offers little unique draw, but maybe Folliard can be a torchbearer for change. "I think we just need a few more local, independent operators coming in here to bring some local flair, energy and attention," Folliard says.

So what does the new Kieran's bring? The most obvious element is attention to detail. There's no corporate-mandated veneer to the new, 10,500-square-foot space; it's essentially a canvas for Folliard's tastes and passions. As a consummate native Irishman, much of his focus points to back home. The pub's woodwork, painstakingly aged via a seven-step process and imported from Ireland, looks 100 years old. Celtic poems dot the walls, and in the Poetry Corner -- a carpeted, intimate wing -- hangs a 28-foot tapestry detailing 800 years of Irish history. The new Titanic Lounge -- a darkly humorous nod to the infamous death ship's Belfast origins -- harbors an honest-to-goodness boat as a bar, and is divided between an earthy "boiler room" and an elegant, pastel ballroom. The Titanic Lounge and some of the memorabilia are carryovers from the old location, Folliard explains, but he stresses that the new pub isn't a re-creation of the old one.

Kieran's 2.0 is also massive. The Titanic Lounge and Poetry Corner could be small bars in their own right, but they're mere pods jettisoning off from the heart of the bar. The main area, high-ceilinged and a mix of dark browns and green walls, has two angled bars. The taps will offer 16 draft beers -- each with a specific, accompanying mug -- and there'll be 20 lighter, bottled session beers, a new Kieran's feature. The kitchen menu has been revamped and will offer more seasonal fare. When pressed on whether the pub will build on its already lengthy happy hour, Folliard is mock-livid. "Jesus! For God's sake!" he shouts with a grin. "11 a.m. to 6 p.m. happy hour! Food and drinks! Seven days a week!" Apparently, that's a no. Previous Kieran's staples like Irish music, poetry slams, readings and trivia will all return at the new location.

A Minnesota transplant with 16 years of local bar ownership (including the Local, the Liffey and Cooper) under his belt, Folliard has a keen sense of Twin Cities character. "It's not one-dimensional," he explains. "It's actually quite like a pub. Lots of different interests -- but they all work together." And a variable demographic is exactly what Folliard hopes the new Kieran's attracts: "From the young folk to the grandparents, from the Armani suits to the torn jeans," he says, describing his vision for future patrons. For Folliard, the worst kind of bar is one with a homogeneous crowd.

With a killer location, a brand with built-in clout and the novelty of not being a soulless chain, things are decidedly optimistic for the new Kieran's. The Block E redevelopment of just nine years ago has already started looking like a dying beast. Assuming things go well for Folliard's joint, it could usher in a new tide of Block E enthusiasm -- and, in turn, a jolt to downtown Minneapolis' heart. But Folliard, ever grounded, isn't resorting to theatrics for Tuesday's opening day, saying only with a wry grin that his only plan is to open doors and invite people in. "We'll march with a band from the old pub to the new pub at 4 p.m.," he says. "And we'll have the first pints ready and waiting."