What can you tell us about the business?
County Seat is a family run business, established by my father in 1977. It’s now the third iteration of it, so we had three different shops. The current shop we’re in on the Main Street, opened 11 years ago. We are a menswear shop, doing casual and suiting, we also would be Donegal’s largest school wear provider.
What’s the story behind the name?
The story behind the name, so in America. There are these town meetings, they all take place in the County Seat. So, all the townspeople would all come together dressed in their best to talk about the issues of the day, so it was the most important place in town.
What can you tell us about the team here at County Seat?
The staff really is County Seat, and County Seat is the staff. We have Greta, who’s been a part of the business for, I think, 36 years. Ivan has been here for 25 years. Paddy and Anne have been here for a really long time now. We really couldn’t do without any one of them.
Would Greta be your longest serving employee?
She would be. The business wouldn’t be possible without her, I always say that I write the cheques, but Greta is the boss. There’s no possible way in words to say how important she is to the business. At Christmastime, you’ll see people dealing with her for 30+ years and they keep coming back. She can recall everything about the customers, she can know that your husband bought this pair of jeans off us 4 years ago, this shirt will match that. Of course, she runs school uniforms every year and takes tremendous pride in that.
What’s your secret for staying in business so long
Teamwork to be honest. The staff and I make the decisions together. We really do take our customer service seriously, we have this policy where we don’t believe in hard selling. We won’t lie to someone to make a sale. That’s our whole thing, we will say if something doesn’t look right. Because we want our customers have confidence in what they wear when they shop with us.
How do you stay up to date with trends in Menswear?
We are very lucky to have some great relationships with some very good companies. We always go shopping with our customers in mind and we reference them when we are buying. Like this specific person would wear that item, and that customers preferences are then replicated throughout many more.
When we do go buying, I always buy one thing I shouldn’t buy. A pure wildcard, a window piece. The one thing I buy is like high fashion but say not high fashion in Letterkenny. But some fella is going to be see it and think, that’s class, that’s the one I want. I don’t buy many of them, but for one person to go, that’s ideal for me, it really means a lot to us.
What’s your favourite memory in the business?
Bringing my son into the shop for the first time. In his little car seat thing, my dad happened to be in the shop at the same time. So, myself, my dad, and my son were all in the shop. I walked him around the shop, and he had no clue what was going on. But it was three generations of us walking around the shop together. It was this tiny moment, that’s my favourite memory.
What would you say inspired you to open Hatch’d
What inspired me mostly was going to Florence. It’s just full of these little hatches selling all-sorts; from wine, meats, and coffee. I had this notion that nobody here does anything like that. I was always really into coffee and food. I said, why not? I had a 2x2 metre space why not would give it a go. The original hatch opened 4 years ago, thankfully it was really popular with people.
I employed Shane McGinty who is now my business partner in Hatch’d. Without opening that little hatch in County Seat 4 years ago we probably would never have come together. Thankfully, we both wanted it to move onto something larger, so we started planning about a year before we opened Hatch’d. We both agreed that we would wait for the right venue, we didn’t want to feel panicked or feel rushed at all. Then, from March when we learned this would be the premises, to opening in October. We basically, incessantly, talked about the type of place we wanted. The type of food we would serve, the environment we wanted, however many seats we would have, the type of customer we wanted.
The same way you have a wildcard pick for County Seat, is there a wildcard menu item for Hatch’d?
Kinda.
There were things Shane and I fought for on the menu. The burgers were something I really wanted. I couldn’t really tell you why I fought so hard for them. Shane really believed in the Pasta; he was probably right because it’s a really popular menu item. But I just spent months refining the blend of mince we would use. I was making these burgers with a miniscule amount of difference just trying to get it just right. I’d go into the butchers and get however much sirloin, this much shoulder, all these different cuts just trying to perfect it. In the evening I’d be sitting with my wife going, try this one, now try this one.
When did you realise that The Hatch had to be more than the 2x2 box it started in?
Good one.
I knew after one year that the hatch had run its course. It was born during Covid when you would see all those coffee vans spring up all over the place. We could see it went well; it could pay Shane no problem. But we both knew that we had to offer our customers more or it would just naturally die out. We knew very quickly after meeting that we wanted to do something together. I say this all the time, I think Shane will be a hugely successful person and I wanted to go along for the ride with him.
What can you tell me about the team at Hatch’d?
They are so, so important to us. The amazing thing is when we were planning to open Hatch’d, I’d heard there’s such a high turnover of staff in hospitality; but nearly all our staff have been with us since day one. They are such hard workers, and I don’t think it’s something I appreciated before I got into the business just how intense it is. From 9 – 6, 6 days a week going above and beyond for customers, it’s incredible. Of course, Shane just has a way with customers and incredibly hard working.
With both businesses being successful, is there any chance of a third venture? Scuba gear for example?
I don’t think I could get into anything else. I couldn’t open a Dog Hair Centre or something haha
Look, I come from a family of entrepreneurs, a business family. My wife is also self-employed. So, it’s just in me, will there be another County Seat? No. County Seat is my job, it’s my day-to-day job. Will there be more Hatch’d? Yes.
With both businesses being located on the Main Street, what’s your view in what independent businesses like yours play in keeping the High Street vibrant?
They play a key role. Like when we opened the County Seat store. I could’ve gone to a retail park, or a shopping centre. It’s the same with Hatch’d. But I have the belief that family run businesses should be on the communities Main Street. It’s historically what this town is, Letterkenny is an entrepreneurial town with local businesspeople. It started with the Main Street and that’s where the beating heart of it is. I grew up half a mile from it, my father started his business on the Main Street in ’77 and provided my family with a good life from it, I intend to do the same with my kids. Does the Main Street have problems moving forward? Yes. But it’s not unlike the same problems faced by other towns.
You can see with Hatch’d there’s opportunities that can happen.
Absolutely. That’s what we discovered. Something like 3000 people live or work along the Main Street, its nuts! There’s absolutely huge potential. Sometimes it’s hard for sure. It’s expensive to start and there’s huge risk involved. If I hadn’t opened Hatch’d, I know I’d look back in 30 years’ time and regret not having done it.
But I’m of the mind that the Main Street needs more diversity, it needs support from the council being strong on derelict and vacant buildings. That whether it’s an artist or craft jewellery, or anything, that they can have a space to call their own. Because right now, a closed door is doing nothing for anyone. It would give them a space to call their own and sell to people they never normally would. The Main Street must be a destination people want to go.
What’s One song you always have on repeat?
Gimme Shelter – Rolling Stones
One item every man should have in their wardrobe.
Either a nice, tapered pair of dark jeans or a Navy shirt.
Name One local spot you’d recommend to a visitor?
Grianan of Aileach
What’s One Restaurant?
The Lemon Tree
What’s One film you’ve watched the most?
Jaws. I got to do my journalism dissertation on Jaws actually.
What’s One coffee order you think people should try?
Every day when I start my morning in Hatch’d they start making me a Flat White.
What’s One thing you’d wish people knew about your business?
That every decision we make is so customer focused.
What’s One fashion trend you’d wish would come back?
Top Hats. Canes. And Morning Suits. Really well-dressed people walking around the town again. 20s style. Think Gatsby
One Gift Card?
ShopLK!
