By Bob Tagert

This story begins quite some time ago. I moved to Old Town Alexandria in 1977. In 1978, Tom Mooney, Sr. and his wife, Melinda, opened Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub in the 700 Block of King Street. This was when I first met Tom Mooney, Jr. who is affectionately known in Alexandria as “Tommy” in order for locals to know which Tom was being referred to. I was 30 years old and Tommy was 8. As the saying goes…You’ve come a long way, baby!

As Murphy’s began to grow, Tom worked in the restaurant growing up – he says we have him to thank for the majority of the split wood used in the famous fireplace during those years – and after high school began continuing his education. After graduating from Plymouth State University, he spread his wings and took his Marine Biology degree to Alaska for some research with Fish and Wildlife. At age 25, the restaurant beckoned and he returned to Old Town eventually become General Manager of Murphy’s.

Along the way Tom married his college sweetheart Ann and together they have four grown children. Soon thoughts of expanding Murphy’s took hold. After a trip to Virginia Beach, Tom and Ann decided to relocate there and open a second Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub. The new Pub opened in 2003 and Tom relocated his family to the area.

As the business grew, he realized the need for fresh seafood at his Irish restaurants. Leaning on his degree and his love of the water, he purchased another boat, secured a “Hook and Line’ license and started a charter business. From there he branched out into commercial fishing and purchased commercial habitat pots to begin fishing for Sea Bass as well as Cobia and Rockfish. Soon he was not only providing seafood to both of his restaurants, but also selling to other markets.

In 2019, Tom and Ann started their own oyster farm on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. Oyster farming is not for the faint of heart and it takes a special mind set to stay diligent with the day to day. These two are an amazing team. They started growing Back Creek Beauties in the rich historic waters of the Tangier Sound, in sight of Tangier Island. Tangier Sound is known for producing the very best oysters and soft-shell crabs in the world. Their Back Creek Beauties are grown in floating cages and the motion of the waves help shape the deep cup and broad fan their oysters are known for. Growing oysters on the surface offers more food and the purest water quality, making their oysters come of the cleanest and best tasting around.

After visiting Tom and Ann at their Murphy’s Pub in Virginia Beach, I realize how much he loves his restaurants and his life on the water. He still enjoys sport fishing as well as some beach time, but what I saw was a very busy man who enjoys the challenge. He travels to Alexandria regularly for a day or two each month to catch up with his local managers. That is a 200-mile one way trip!

When asked if the kids were showing an interest in keeping the Murphy’s legacy alive into the next generation, Ann told us that their youngest son is enrolled in the award-winning Hart School of Hospitality at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Guess this indicates that the answer is “yes”.

Following in his father’s shoes, Tom served as the Grand Marshall of the 42nd St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Alexandria that took place (way too early in my opinion) on the 1^st of this month. Not only does he give of his time but is also one of the top donors to the Ballyshaners, Inc., organizers of the parade. Murphy’s was also the donor of all of the oysters used in the 5^th Annual Oyster Shucking Competition that took place in Old Town last October.

This is a modern-day story of one of Alexandria’s sons doing good and giving back. Slainte!