Flying Shamrock up for sale
By Rochelle Moore
Published in News on July 10, 2016 1:45 AM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Co-owner Wayne Turner, at the bar inside the Flying Shamrock Irish Pub and Restaurant, is officially selling the popular downtown business, which recently celebrated its nine-year anniversary on North John Street in Goldsboro.
The Flying Shamrock Irish Pub and Restaurant, a longstanding downtown business and popular hotspot, is officially for sale.
Wayne Turner, co-owner, recently put up a for sale sign at the business and stepped up efforts to more aggressively find a buyer.
"I have been talking to a couple interested parties," he said. "It's verbally been up for sale close to a year. We posted a sign to get more interest."
Turner is selling the business in an effort to spend more time with his family and to focus on his flying career. Turner is a full-time reservist stationed at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base.
"I just don't have the time to manage it," he said.
Turner co-owns the business with Crawford Moore and Kathy Turner. The business opened in 2007 as a partnership between four Air Force reservists, including Turner and Moore. At the time, the four were part of the 77th Air Refueling Squadron, and the Flying Shamrock's four-leaf clover logo represents the partnership of two pilots, a navigator and boom operator, Turner said.
Within a year of opening, the business expanded and now takes up 4,000-square-feet of space at 115 and 117 N. John St. The Shamrock houses a bar, restaurant, office, event space and 2,000-square-feet of basement and upper-level storage space.
The sale does not include the century old historic building, but instead includes all the equipment, furnishings and other items, including a 100-year-old piano, housed inside the John Street property.
A new owner would be able to take on a fully equipped and fully staffed business, with the option to continue with the same name and same business concept, Turner said.
"That would be great, but definitely not a requirement," he said. "It would only be beneficial. We already have a name. We have an established reputation. I'm looking to find someone who wants to own a business that's turn-key."
The Downtown Goldsboro Development Corp. office has been working to assist the owners and helped develop sales materials, which are available on the business website, at www.theflyingshamrock.com, said Elizabeth Rutland, DGDC business and property development specialist.
"We'll be sad to see Wayne go," Rutland said. "He was one of the first outsiders, outside of Goldsboro, to see the potential in what downtown Goldsboro could become, and invested in opening a business.
"In no way do we want the pub to go away, but we'd love to work with a new business owner."
The Flying Shamrock's sale proposal provides information about the restaurant and pub, its history, involvement in the community, and other sale terms. Turner said he is open to negotiating a fair price.
In addition to its wide selection of imported, domestic and microbrewed beers, the pub offers live music, trivia nights and events throughout the year. The Shamrock is well-known for its annual hair-shaving fundraiser that benefits the St. Baldrick's Foundation, During its seven years in Goldsboro, the event has netted in excess of $135,000. The Shamrock also started the Kilt Run, another St. Baldrick's fundraising effort, which supports research in finding cures for childhood cancer.
The Flying Shamrock has won multiple downtown and other business awards spanning its near decade in Goldsboro and is regularly involved in many downtown events throughout the year. Turner anticipates being able to land a buyer, who can take on a popular, well-established pub in an area of Goldsboro that continues to thrive.
"With all the growth, with all the businesses and downtown Goldsboro having so much going on, I would hope someone would take the opportunity to own a cog of downtown," Turner said. "We've been down there for quite a long time."
Rutland also sees potential in the sale.
"We've had over 40 businesses open within the past 18 months," she said. "With the momentum moving with downtown, I can't imagine it not getting better.
"I think it's a great opportunity for anyone who's ever considered downtown and opening a similar business."
The Flying Shamrock is accepting serious inquiries at 919-920-4733 or theflyingshamrock@hotmail.com.