Calgary’s Paddy’s Barbecue and Brewery goes down to one day a week in anticipation of owners’ retirement

Retirement has been a long time coming for the Sorrentis but they’re not quite there yet.

It was spring of last year when Jordan and Kerry Sorrenti announced they wanted a new owner to take over their Paddy’s Barbecue and Brewery smokehouse so that they can “stop to smell the roses” and retire.

A year and a few failed sales later, the couple are now choosing to open their restaurant on Saturdays only from 11:30am to 9pm for the next few months while they at least get to enjoy an early glimpse of retirement.

Jordan says three different groups were serious about taking over the business but, for one reason or another, all of the deals fell through.

Each deal takes about three to four months to process so it’s a lot of work, Jordan explains.

“We had to make a decision at some point, we’re turning 70 this year, after all. So, the decision we made was just we’re going to only open Saturdays through the spring to the end of June,” Jordan says, adding the process can be cumbersome.

“If a serious buyer doesn’t come, then what we are going to do is just liquidate everything.”

Giving people what they want

Going down to one day a week allows the couple time to get their affairs in order in advance of retirement.

“It gives us a bit more time to organize things because even when you’re open four or five days a week, you don't have a lot of time for anything else because you’re just so busy with the business,” Jordan says.

“And then you get to the end of the day and you’re too tired to do anything else. At least we could do some pre-planning and get things organized. And that was the whole point.”

Saturdays are the busiest day of the week for the business, so it just made sense.

“We’re just giving people what they want,” Jordan says, adding people are disappointed the business will be closing, but they understand.

“People are appreciative and people are kind of sad because they read the posts and they hear the news that you may be retiring. A lot of people hope the restaurant can survive with somebody taking it over without having to close it.”

Hustling and bustling for four decades

The couple has been hustling and bustling in the fast-paced food service industry for more than 40 years and they’re ready to ride off into the sunset.

“We’re definitely at the age where if we don’t start enjoying our lives, there won’t be a lot left,” Jordan says.

Paddy’s Barbecue isn’t the couple’s first food venture, but it’s the one they came out of retirement to operate in 2019, taking over from their son.

Their first business, Sorrenti’s restaurant, was located in the historic Burns Building and was a big part of the early food scene in Calgary in the mid-’80s.

Jordan got his start in the industry as a dishwasher when he was 13, and worked his way up.

“While we were doing that, we started catering to offices downtown. The reality back then was there was more money in catering, and we were in the restaurant business,” he explains, adding they closed the restaurant and just did catering for many years before retiring.

Ready for someone else to steer the ship

In 2019, they came out of retirement to operate Paddy’s Barbecue and Brewery, which was originally designed to sell high-quality barbecue and beer along with catering services.

That was pre-COVID, but the pandemic forced the Sorrentis to stay out of retirement to protect and grow their business, even during the slowest times in recent history for food service.

Jordan and Kerry own the building where Paddy’s Barbeque is located and the 5,600-square-foot smokehouse comes with the necessary equipment, including a taproom, a large commercial kitchen, and a patio.

“It’s not a tiny little hole in the wall,” Jordan says, adding someone can take it over as a restaurant but it doesn’t necessarily have to stay a barbeque joint.

“We’ve probably got more kitchen space than we have seating, so we’re looking for someone that has a passion for food, beer, or both.”

Ride into the sunset

The couple started planning their retirement last year in hopes of hitting the road. While they finally purchased the RV they wanted, they still haven’t been able to make any long-distance trips.

“We bought one two years ago, and the only place we've ever been is Lions Park campground,” Jordan laughs.

Jordan says the couple has enjoyed working in the food industry for the past four decades but it’s time to move on and explore the world.

“It’s been a fun ride and we do enjoy the customers. We both enjoy all the people that come in to see us, eat some barbecue, and enjoy themselves,” he says.

“We’ll see where it goes.”

The Sorrentis are also liquidating their excess supplies so people can inquire about their warehouse items up for sale.