OLDEST IRISH AMERICAN NEWSPAPER IN USA, ESTABLISHED IN 1928

Brian Karppinen

Age: 49

Place of birth: Bayshore, NY.

Where you live: Lake Grove, NY.

Name of Company you work for: Katies Of Smithtown.

City you work in: Smithtown.

Profession: Bar Owner.

Why I chose this career: Family has been in the bar and restaurant business for generations. For a while I was a mechanic and auto body man but then I went back into what my family does best.

Status: Single.

The proudest moment of my career: Every St. Patrick’s Day when my mom comes to my bar to spend the day listening to live Irish music and greeting my patrons.

Biography: Brian Karppinen was born in Bayshore, Long Island in 1963 to parents that always worked in local pubs and restaurants. Brian’s mom, Fran, was born in NYC but she was sent back to Ireland (Louth) as a infant and returned to NY after WWII. Her family owned pubs in Ireland and in NYC, one of them being The Mount Morris Irish Pub in Harlem. Brian’s dad was a bartender when he could not find work in construction. Brian grew up in bars and being a big man (6’6″ 300+lbs) he started as a bouncer after high school but it was just a matter of time before he owned his own pub. Katies Of Smithtown was originally called Katies Donegans but was later shortened to Katies, It is loveingly named after his grandmother and great grandmother Katie Donegan. Katies Corporate name is still Katie Donegans Inc. Katies has been featured on many TV shows, books and newspapers due to its paranormal activity. It is Long Island’s most famous haunted bar.

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