Sully’s in Medina: Where Irish Roots Meet Ohio Hospitality 🍀🍺

If there’s one thing that’s clear about Ali Burmeister, it’s that Irish pride runs deep. 🍀🥰

But don’t let the last name fool you, Ali is Irish to the core. 🍀

From childhood memories of Irish dancing to corned beef and cabbage dinners, her Irish heritage has always been at the heart of her family traditions. “My sister and I both competed in Irish Dancing, and we’d either watch the St. Patrick’s Day parade or—better yet—dance in it,” Ali recalls.

“We even danced on the White House lawn! But what I love most about being Irish is how it taught us the importance of hospitality, family, and community. Our family reunions were huge—so big we had to wear name tags!”

Ali’s Irish roots and values shape both her personal life and the way she runs Sully’s, the cozy pub she owns in Medina with her family. “It’s all about family, community, and hospitality,” Ali says. “Those are the pillars of being Irish, and those are also the things that have helped Sully’s grow from the ground up.”

The pub itself is a product of a bit of fate and a lot of hard work. Ali’s dad, John Sullivan, who spent 40 years in trucking, was looking for something different, like many of us do. 

After years of enjoying traditional Irish music as a family, John decided to open an Irish pub. And while they didn’t exactly have a grand plan for Medina, things just kind of fell into place.

“We stumbled across an old machine shop here in Medina, and after a lot of elbow grease, we turned it into the cozy spot it is today,” Ali says. “It took almost two years to transform this place, and we’ve been lucky to have a great community supporting us every step of the way.”

Speaking of support, Ali can’t speak highly enough about the Medina business scene. “The love and support we get from both Medina City and County is incredible. Main Street Medina is like our business cheerleader, and all the local small business owners here are like family—we’re always looking out for each other.”

And speaking of family, there’s a whole lot of it at Sully’s, from the regulars who’ve supported the pub since day one, to the staff who’ve become like a second family. “We opened in 2008, right in the middle of a recession, but our customers came through for us. And when Covid hit, they really came to our rescue. We wouldn’t be here without them.”

This isn’t just another sports bar with a clover logo and green beer - Sully’s is doing the Irish thing right. That means authentic food, music straight from the Irish hills, good craic, and an impeccable vibe.

When it comes to the vibe at Sully’s, Ali wants everyone to feel like they’ve walked into a second home. “When you walk in on St. Patrick’s Day, we want you to feel the same way you do every day at Sully’s—welcomed, comfortable, and happy.

Leave your worries at the door, grab a pint, enjoy the live music, and have a bite of our famous Reuben sandwiches or Reuben eggrolls. And if you don’t leave with a smile, we’re doing something wrong.”

No wonder Ohio is a perfect place to run their business - hospitality and family run strong in The Land, so of course their Irish roots have found a place to bloom and thrive here. 😍

This year, Sully’s is really bringing the Irish vibes with a jam-packed week of events:

• March 12 – Traditional Irish music session

• March 13 – Ladies Night Out featuring Loch Erie

• March 14 – Live music from Eazy Ian

• March 15 – Medina St. Patrick’s Day Pub Crawl + Donal O’Shaughnessy live

• March 17 (St. Patrick’s Day!) – Wee Ones St. Patrick’s Day event (family-friendly fun!)

  • Balloon animals, face painting, bagpipers, tableside magic, and Irish dancers

  • Breakfast (8 AM – 11 AM): Traditional Irish breakfast, drunken Belgian waffles, Sully’s famous pancakes

• March 18 – Survivor’s Party 🎉 with The New Barleycorn and plenty of good times

“What I hope people feel when they walk into Sully’s is simple: that they’re home. We want them to feel like part of the family. That’s what Irish hospitality is all about,” says Ali. “And if you’ve never had a Reuben eggroll, well… you’re welcome.”

So, this St. Patrick’s Day, come raise a pint at Sully’s Pub in Medina, where Ohio charm meets Irish spirit. You’ll be glad you did—and probably a little tipsy, too. 🍀