Gullifty's, A Harrisburg Staple

Gullifty’s, A Harrisburg Staple
A little bad press can’t stop a great business

by Susan Haas-Davis

Gullifty’s, A Harrisburg Staple Ok, ok … let’s talk about what you won’t find first — just so the record is straight. In terms of Gullifty’s the restaurant, you won’t find: slap it on the table service from waiters serving “mystery meat,” baskets with dusty, plastic plants on your table, or overhead “muzak.” In regard to Gullifty’s Underground, the nightclub, you won’t find: a wall to wall “meat market” with a DJ, cover bands who play other artist’s music, or a dark, dismal “hole in the wall” where carrying mace is a necessity.

Why start with a negative statement first? Because, quite honestly, Gullifty’s has received some negative press coverage in recent months that has not helped business. The facts are these: owner Ike Eisenhower runs a fine establishment with a great restaurant upstairs that serves fine food in a comfortable, pleasant atmosphere with personable service and a nightclub downstairs that features the area’s top original bands and musicians. Those are the facts. Care to dispute it, stop by and take a look for yourself.

Heading out to Gullifty’s for lunch or dinner can mean an appetizer, a sandwich, pizza, or a full course meal. The menu is diverse and includes everything from their famous baked potato soup and focaccia sandwiches, to top sirloin and fresh seafood. A different special is featured every day of the week. Gullifty’s is great for a business lunch, a date, or dinner for the entire family.

Longtime Patron Robin Holden of Hershey sums it up: “I come here with my husband for a night out away from the kids, with the kids and my husband for a family night out, and I just booked my son’s basketball team’s pizza party here. We’ve been coming here for years and the service and food are wonderful.”

Gullifty’s Underground has earned the reputation as a showcase venue for the area’s top original musical artists. Bands like The Badlees, The Martini Brothers, Big Tubba Mista, and Stealing Pennies are just a few of the artists who rotate several times a year at Gullifty’s Underground. Although there are occasional tribute bands like Riders of the Storm, 80 to 90 percent of the talent comes from original musicians and not cover bands. Focus is placed on giving artists a place to showcase their material. John Harris, who books the musicians for Gullifty’s Underground, feels the biggest problem is that not enough people know about the place. “Gullifty’s features the area’s best original musicians on a local, regional and statewide level. Not everyone outside of each band’s individual following knows that. Plus each band also plays at least two, sometimes three sets a night. We have two and three bands a night. That’s an incredible amount of entertainment under one roof and I just don’t know that many people outside the band’s own following know how much there really is here.” Gullifty’s Underground also features half price drinks every night from nine to eleven and plans to start open mic nights every Tuesday evening with host Dan Kibler.

So let’s see — great dining in a comfortable atmosphere upstairs and fine entertainment downstairs and all of this under one roof. Eisenhower ties it all together for those who remain uncertain: “People tend to migrate to places where they feel comfortable, whether that’s a restaurant, nightclub or any other business. Our goal is to promote an all-encompassing atmosphere: great food and service, affordable prices, and wonderful entertainment. We also develop a comfort level with our customers that keeps them coming back. The real challenge is to get those who have never been here in the door. Once they’re in, I have no doubt they’ll become regulars.” How could you stay away from this place … unless of course you’re looking for slap it on the table service, muzak, or a dark, dismal hole in the wall where carrying mace is a necessity … It’s time to squelch the rumors and give this place the credit it deserves. See you at Gullifty’s.

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