I dropped by the streetcar line again last week. This time, I visited a place I’ve been to many times: Cunningham’s Pub and Grill.

For those that are unfamiliar, Cunningham’s bills itself as an Irish Bar and Grill. The locally owned and family-owned restaurant can trace its beginning to 2007 when a bar named 120 Blondes opened at 120th and Blondo. It shared a kitchen with Brunette’s Bistro next door. After Guy and Imogene Richards bought them in 2010, they renamed it Cunningham’s, an homage to her mother, Inez Cunningham.

By 2013, Cunningham’s relocated to Old Mill where it continues to operate. They opened a second location in Blackstone in 2024 after the streetcar project was announced. The restaurant is a bit unique in that you enter from the west side of the building rather than from the sidewalk along Farnam. Inside, it has a warehouse vibe with its brick interior walls, large concrete columns, exposed ceiling, concrete floor and garage doors on the south wall facing Farnam. The long bar on the east wall has several televisions above it with a dozen or spread throughout. The seating consists of both high and low tops in addition to a long booth.

I’ve been to both locations with Old Mill being a frequent after-work hangout in the pre-pandemic days. While the menu has a bit of an Irish(ish) spin on it with Guinness Braised Beef Stew, Irish Nachos served with potato chip instead of tortilla chips, it skews towards upscale sports bar fare with burgers, smoked wings, sandwiches, wraps, soup, and salad among other options. Its menu claims that it serves up the city’s original smoked wings. I’m not sure if that’s true but it has its share of fans. Cunningham’s is also known for its craft beer selection and should have whatever style you’re craving including several Drekker Sours.

After being seated, I ordered a build your own burger topped with cheddar cheese, crispy onions, and secret sauce. While it’s not my favorite in town or even in Blackstone, it is a good option if you’re dropping by to watch a game. More than the burger, I enjoyed the beef stew with its large chunks of beef and potatoes. Its food is among the best you’ll find at any sports bar in town. In a first for me, I skipped the beer at Cunningham’s and opted for an Old Fashioned. While not particularly difficult to make, I’m surprised at how many bars serve a subpar version of the classic cocktail. Somewhat surprisingly to me, I found the one at Cunningham’s to be well made and quite enjoyable.

With the exception of 16th Street, the section of Farnam between 38th Street and 38th Avenue is the biggest mess along the route with the north lane being completely closed and the sidewalks east of Cunningham’s being blocked due to the collapsed foundation of the building next door. Even so, I found a spot less than a block away at the 37 West Farnam parking garage. If you’re walking over from the east as I did, I suggest using the sidewalk on the south side of Farnam. Across from Earlybird, you’ll find a bridge that will carry you over the torn-up street to the north side of the street where it’s located.

Sitting along the historic streetcar route at 3814 Farnam, you can see traces of the building’s past when it opened as Anderson Electric Car Company in 1916. Prior to the revival of the district, its longtime occupant was Central Distributing Company, which sold and leased jukeboxes, operated from the building for more than 20 years. After sitting vacant and being used for storage for a number of years, it was renovated in 2017 and served as the home to Stirnella Bar & Kitchen until 2023 with the second floor being converted to office space.

The Cunningham’s in Blackstone is located at 3814 Farnam Street. Sitting to the east is one of my favorite places, Red Lion Lounge in the basement of the Colonial Hotel. To its west is the always-popular brunch spot, Earlybird. Cunningham’s limited construction zone hours are from 4 pm to Close Tues-Thurs, 11 am to 11 pm on Fri and Sat, and 11 am to 4 pm on Sun. The signage states that once they are through the worst of the road construction, they will return to their normal hours. Check out their website for more:

https://cunninghamspubandgrill.com/

There’s no doubt the streetcar will bring big changes to Blackstone and beyond when it arrives in 2028. Hopefully Cunningham’s sticks around long enough to see it.

Along the Streetcar Line spotlights businesses navigating construction along the streetcar route. I’m dropping by to show some support, and hope you’ll do the same.

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