| You may have been seeing construction activity over at the new building behind
Eckerds on Sample Road and wondered what was going on in there. Now when you
drive by, the parking lot seems like it is always full of cars. Opening recently
and already a busy destination, is Bonefish Mac's, the creation of longtime LHP
residents Chuck McLaughlin and wife of 31 years Jane. " It all comes from my
growing up in Pittsburgh," says Chuck a decorated Marine veteran "and a dream I
had as a kid of owning my own bar." "The walls are covered with my life, says
McLaughlin of the sports and fishing memorabilia that adorns the well decorated
interior of his new Sports Bar. He derived the theme from the towns interest in
boating and sports "I wanted to create a friendly local watering hole in LHP,
where the Beer was Cold and sold in pints, where hot food was hot and cold food
was cold. A family friendly place to accommodate the changing demographics in
LHP and where everyone was comfortable to come and hang out. I had also taken a
hit in the stock market and wanted to invest in myself and not trust other
people with my savings. I am comfortable with that and sleep well knowing that
we have invested in our own ideas and hard work. While McLaughlin and his wife
both started out as schoolteachers, they have also both had great
diversity in their lives. Parents of three children ranging from 12 to 28,
Jane has been a City Commissioner and now serves as the Executive Director
of Hugs For Kids, a charity that works towards the elimination of domestic
violence. Chuck has been in the food business for over 25 years and owned
one of the largest food brokerages in Florida.
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While their son
CJ works in the family business, the McLaughlins have built a professional
team to assist them in running the establishment. Formerly of Roadhouse
Grills, Mark Scobee heads up the team as Managing Partner, followed by
Bill Strong as Manager (Outback, TGI Fridays) and Kate Kelly as Kitchen
Manager (TGI Fridays, Roadhouse). Marrying Jane brought Johnny Garneau
into Chucks life as his Father-In-Law. A source of inspiration for Chuck,
Johnny G as he is known, was a creative and well-known Restaurateur as
owner of the Golden Spikes and a Pioneer of the American Buffet. According
to Chuck, Johnny also invented the sneeze guard and is in the Restaurant
Hall Of Fame. "His creativity was an inspiration to me, says Chuck as he
points out Johnny's reserved seat at the bar. Some of McLaughlins unique
ideas are 24 Very Cold Beers on tap, Curbside-Pickup for Take-Out and
Closed Circuit TV's monitoring the Game room so Dad can have a beer with
the boys at the 20 TV bar and keep an eye on Junior at the same time.
Their Signature Dish is Bonefish Wrappers and as Chuck says "it's an
American Sports Grill Menu and the portions are big". It is a sizable
investment for a local "Watering Hole" and the McLauglins have done it in
professional fashion. Architect; Bill Gallo GC; Jerry Dubuois Contractor;
JWR Construction Sample Road Lighthouse Point, FL 33064 Phone; (954)
781-MACS |
