After nearly four decades in the business, it’s last call for a well-known bar owner in New Glasgow, N.S.
“It's time,” says bar owner Tom Brady. “I've had some health issues and, you know, I'm getting old. So it's time to pack it in.”
Over the last four decades, there have been a lot of changes in Brady's bars - they used to be filled with tobacco smoke and heavy drinking. The laws have removed the smoking and Brady says young people today are much more responsible drinkers than in the past.
“I kept track of it,” says Brady. “It was less than half the drinks per person than they used to be. It’s about 2.6, compared to maybe six and a half back in the early 80s.”
Over the years, Brady’s interests have seen him come out from behind the bar and into the community. He even ran for mayor of New Glasgow.
“There's only one thing I can say about Tom, he's generous to a fault, but he's awful mean to himself. Hopefully, with this retirement, he will lighten up for himself,” says Howard Murphy, Brady’s friend and customer.
Shawn MacDonald has worked for Brady for 20 years and says the boss has one main business philosophy.
“Treat everybody the same. Treat everybody equal. Everybody's a customer, no matter what walk of life,” says MacDonald.
Brady says it will be the interactions with his customers that he’ll miss the most.
“Well, people are good, you know. I've enjoyed that part of it,” says Brady.
Brady's retirement party is set for Saturday and it's expected a glass or two will be raised in his honour.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Dan MacIntosh
