Today we’d like to introduce you to Randi and Jeff Cowmeadow.
Hi Randi and Jeff, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
The pub was born out of a desire to help create a community. After traveling to Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales our original idea of an old-school coffee house changed to an old-world public house (pub). We spoke of the vision for years and when a space became available, we jumped in the deep end. Others through their generosity, support and friendship were there with a lifeline if needed. The church I pastor embraced the vision and supported this new way of thinking about space, place and presence within a neighborhood.
The name Prodigal Pub came about as we were sitting at the dining room table with some close friends at their house. We were just dropping names one after another until Prodigal seemed to ring a bell. A month or so later we had an opportunity to meet Kieren Folliard who is the grand Irish Publican of Minnesota. He endorsed the idea as “brilliant” and said we wouldn’t be the best Irish, English, Scottish or Welsh pub but we could, in the spirit of the old parable about the Prodigal Son, truly welcome people “home”. From that day on we knew it was the right name because to be successful, we would need to practice radical hospitality. We would need to be “extravagant” (the definition of prodigal).
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
We opened in May of 2019 and things were growing and going pretty smoothly until St. Patricks Day of 2020 when bars and restaurants were closed because of Covid. Like all others our road forward became rocky and uncertain. Clearly, Covid was something few had prepared for.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
The Pub is not our first calling or line of work. Randi is a Spanish professor at Normandale Community College and I am Sr. Pastor of Calvary Church two blocks from the Prodigal. The pub really is an extension of our shared desire to create safe, fun, sacred space while enjoying the camaraderie, conversation and connection. Our specialty is simply the welcome that people experience in an intimate place that reminds people of a small authentic European pub. John Cosgrove from the north of Ireland is fond of saying: “You don’t know what you’re doing but you sure have created a true pub”. We also specialize in our daughter Kendahl’s pot pies! City Pages Paper named us the Twin Cities Best Pub in 2020 and cited the pot pies as one reason. Good food, good drink, good people all in a very unique corner pub brings added value to a neighborhood and we are proud of that. We are proud that so many have returned and returned and returned again.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.prodigalpub.com
- Facebook: Prodigal Pubic House
