Paul Leongas
From Pub to Property — Writing About Both Lives and What They Have in Common
From the Bar to the Build
I spent the first part of my working life running pubs. My sisters and I bought The Curragh Traditional Irish Pub in Schaumburg right out of Michigan State, and we opened locations in Edison Park and Skokie. In 2002 The Curragh earned the Guinness Gold Standard Award for the Perfect Pint. Running those places taught me how buildings actually work.
When I moved into commercial development and started Axis Development Group, I carried all of that with me. I now acquire, reposition, and build commercial properties across Chicago’s North Shore, self-performing the construction so I can stand behind the cost and the quality myself. This is where I write about both lives and what they have in common.
From the Blog
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Whisky, Hospitality, and Detail: Paul Leongas on What Made The Curragh Work
Whisky Magazine once named The Curragh Traditional Irish Pub one of the great whisky bars in the world. That recognition…
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Three Curragh Locations, One Lesson: Paul Leongas on Running a Place People Return To
Over the years my family ran The Curragh Traditional Irish Pub in three places: Schaumburg, Edison Park, and Skokie. Three…
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What Running an Irish Pub Taught Paul Leongas About Building Them
I spent the first part of my working life running pubs, not building them. So when people hear that Paul…