100 Miles with Finn

Everyone’s a

Local at

Finnerty’s

Tap Room

Whether you left it in the dryer, in the pocket of yesterday’s jeans, or in a different car or purse, the realization that you’ve arrived mask-less at your destination is an awkward one. That is, unless your destination is Finnerty’s Tap Room at 5 E. Washington St. in Ellicottville.

“If you need a mask, just ask,” is owner Billy Finnerty’s new motto. “We don’t want people to feel uncomfortable if they come out and realize they forgot it.” 

For Finnerty, providing masks is about taking care of the community and is an important part of his and the Ellicottville Chamber of Commerce’s pledge to keep Ellicottville safe and healthy. “If someone is traveling to eat at our place and they forget their mask or if they’re in someone else’s car and don’t have it, we’re not going to turn them away,” said Finnerty. “For us, it’s a small additional cost, but something we gladly take on to provide for our customers or anyone if they need a mask. Get one here and go enjoy the town!”

Providing masks is just another way Finnerty continues to make all feel welcome in his pub, which opened in 2016. Finnerty reflected on his first few months in business. “The way people came back day after day literally got us through, and we’ve got friendships everywhere.” From Rochester to Salamanca, to Erie, Pennsylvania and beyond, even Finnerty’s earliest customers feel as local to him as those who live in town. 

These past few months have reminded him of those early days, as many of his original local customers continued to support Finnerty’s even when it was only open a few days each month. “We lost our Mardi Gras and St. Patrick’s Day crowds, which for Finnerty’s was huge,” he recalled. Although Finnerty’s was closed for a time, the pub gradually reopened a few nights a month for Friday fish fries. 

Finnerty said, “We opened up slowly to three days a week, and now we’re at four days: from Friday through Tuesday in August. We’re bringing back Sundays, and I’ll be tending bar in the afternoon – hopefully there’s a football season!”

Whether one is traveling from near or far to enjoy a local brew or meal at Finnerty’s, “You’re going to be treated like a local here,” he said. “For people who live here or those who have canceled their vacations, there’s not a better staycation than Ellicottville!” In fact, no matter where you live, all you have to do is mention you’re a local at Finnerty’s, and you’ll receive a 10% discount on your bill.

A great day to stop by is Aug. 28th, when Finnerty plans to celebrate the accomplishment of a special goal, his mother’s birthday, and a belated mother’s day for all. By Aug. 28th, Finnerty is planning to walk 100 miles to raise money and awareness for multiple system atrophy (MSA), which his mother passed away from in 2013. A Parkinson’s-plus disease, MSA is often misdiagnosed as Parkinson’s disease (PD) or dementia, as it is a neurodegenerative disorder that has similar symptoms. However, as its name implies, MSA affects many body systems and is far rarer and more severe than PD, so proper diagnosis is key; the earlier a patient is diagnosed, the better. 

For eight years, Finnerty’s mother was misdiagnosed with PD. “If I would have known what it was, we could have fought it in a very different way when we had a chance to fight it a little better,” said Finnerty, who took care of his mother until she passed away. “She fought the whole way; she danced in my and my brother’s weddings. She rallied, but there were over a dozen hospitalizations. With COVID-19 right now and immune deficiency, awareness for people with MSA is really important.”

Finnerty and his St. Bernard, Finn, are committed to walking 100 miles over the course of a month to raise awareness and money for the Defeat MSA Alliance, a 501(c)(3) organization that supports patients, educates medical professionals, raises public awareness and supports research for MSA. Donations can be made on Finnerty’s Facebook fundraising page #FinnFightsMSA. In just the first two days of his 100-mile challenge, donations surpassed Finnerty’s $1,200 goal. “I can’t wait to see where this goes!” he said.

Visit Finnerty’s Tap Room on Friday, Aug. 28 to celebrate 100 miles, enjoy live music by Tui Osborne, participate in raffles, and enjoy a special Mother’s Day dinner or drink. “Anyone can bring their mom,” said Finnerty. “She eats free. Stop by for fun, music, and a day where we can honor our mothers, wives, anyone who’s such an important part of our lives and the reason we’re on the planet: the people who raised us. It’s a big deal to let moms know how important they are in this day and age, especially all of the roles they’ve taken on during this pandemic.”

For more information, follow Finnerty’s Tap Room on Facebook or visit finnertystaproom.com.