Hooligan's Grill - Erika Escue

Kathye Herrera introduced Erika who is originally from Toledo, has a daughter who is about to graduate from high school as well as a son in college who will graduate in May. Erika attended the University of Miami of Ohio. Prior to opening Hooligan’s, Erika was an interior designer of commercial buildings for the past 13 years. A client of hers was interested in looking at the old Barley House a couple of years ago and did so but told Erika he was not interested in purchasing it. Yet, Erika said “I just fell in love with it!”. There was something about it that was to begin a career in the restaurant business in Adrian!

 

After a year of arranging financing and remodeling the structure, Hooligan’s opened on March 1 of 2013. Her son’s name happens to be Hooligan. This past year, she said, has been especially difficult. She has gone through 100 employees during that time but now has a staff of 26 who she said are “awesome”! She couldn’t say enough about her “young and ambitious” General Manager as well as her Bar Manager.

 

In June of last year Erika was diagnosed with cancer and was out for 6 months. Her son was able to move back and take over the business in order to keep it open. She credits sheer perseverance and the help of many wonderful people in Adrian for helping the business survive.    

 

Erika said that her commitment has been to using Michigan suppliers. Their breads come from local bakeries; they have retained a local butcher; of 16 beer taps, 14 are Michigan-made beers; their wines will soon all come from Michigan wineries as will the liquor side of their business, she said.

 

Erika shared with the audience events/programs she will be introducing in the weeks and months ahead: Wine Days every Wednesday, comedy nights, Sushi Days, and beginning a Scotch Club. Hooligan’s offers a Catering Bar Service and take-out Growlers (60oz beer containers). She closed by saying that she is always looking for ways to reinvent what they do and to expand. She is grateful for not only her staff but the opportunity to locate in a town like Adrian, where “you can really have it all and even more than you could imagine in a larger city”.