Located in historic Somers Point, Josie Kelly’s offers an authentic, Irishthemed atmosphere with eye-catching décor, fresh dishes, Irish whiskey, and a wide selection of local, craft, and imported beers. Owner, Dermot Lloyd, originally an Irish native, incorporated his roots and hospitality background to create this unique pub that will make you feel like you’re in the heart of Ireland.
Heady Times met with Dermot Lloyd to learn more about the evolving Irish food and beverage industry, and the different ways it has inspired the food, drink, and fun you will find at Josie Kelly’s.
Heady Times (HT): You have an impressive background in the industry. Why now and why did you choose Somers Point to open Josie Kelly’s?
Dermot Lloyd (DL): South Jersey has a vast Irish connection and influence. With limited options in the area, we finally came across this historic location and named it after my grandmother, Josephine Kelly. In 2018, we opened our doors following the summer beach crowd so we could get to know the regulars. Without regulars, a business like this will not survive. My goal is to run the pub similarly to my hometown in Ireland.
HT: Tell us about your beer selections.
DL: Having a variety and freshness is extremely important to us. We listen to our customers and have a good mix of imported and local beers, and we even offer Miller Lite on tap. Being an Irish pub, we take Guinness very seriously. The bar has Guinness towers that we imported over from Ireland. One of my biggest fears is that a customer will get a bubble in their pint, or it is too warm.
HT: We hear your menu offers many surprises. What kind of dishes can we expect?
DL: It is authentic Irish fare made from scratch. The Irish food and beverage industry is constantly evolving, and it is no longer limited to meat and potatoes. My mom, who is a retired cook, came over and did a test kitchen. For our Irish chowder, she felt it is best to make each bowl to order. It was hard to grasp the amount of time it would take to sauté every bowl of soup, but we are doing it. It is as genuine chowder as you can find.
HT: What makes Josie Kelly’s different from the traditional Irish pub brand?
DL: Every Irish pub is unique. We are not pretentious, and all are welcome to join. We are open to trying different things and making ties to the community to attract a broader demographic. We love music and offer every type of genre, including Motown, Jersey rock, and traditional Irish music, to name a few.
908 Shore Rd, Somers Point, NJ 08244 • https://josiekellys.com/
About Kramer Beverage
Kramer Beverage is South Jersey’s largest beer wholesaler, owned and operated by four generations of the Kramer family since 1924. Kramer Beverage is based out of Hammonton, Atlantic County, and services eight counties in southern New Jersey with top brands from MillerCoors, Constellation, Yuengling, Boston Beer, Heineken USA, Pabst, Diageo, FIFCO, and more. Kramer Beverage also distributes a wide variety of craft beers, from suppliers such as New Belgium and Sierra Nevada, to local favorites including Flying Fish, Double Nickel, Evil Genius, Glasstown, Sly Fox, 2SP, and Dogfish Head. For more information on Kramer Beverage, please visit www.kramerbev.com.