Pat Quinn (businessman) facts for kids

Pat Quinn (born July 1, 1935 – died November 23, 2009) was a famous Irish businessman. He was known as a music promoter and a great storyteller. Pat Quinn founded Quinnsworth, which was Ireland's very first chain of supermarkets. He also created the idea of "yellow pack" products, which were cheaper items.

The Irish Times newspaper called him "one of the country's best-known business figures" in the 1960s and 1970s. They also said he was "the whizz kid of the Irish grocery business." Later in life, he became a well-known person in the Irish-Canadian community. He lived with his family in Toronto, Canada.

Early Life and Family

Pat Quinn was born on July 1, 1935. He grew up in a small place called Cloone in County Leitrim, Ireland. His mother ran a local pub and grocery store. His father was a police officer in the Garda Síochána. The family also helped with funerals.

Pat had several brothers and sisters. His brothers Fersey, Fintan, and Kevin, and his sister Annette, were still alive when he passed away. Another sister, Mary, had died earlier. Pat went to a boarding school called St. Mel's College in County Longford.

Starting in Business

Early Retail Experience

Pat Quinn started his career working at Woolworths in Limerick. He began as a stockboy, helping to organize items in the store. He quickly learned a lot and was promoted. By the age of 22, he became a store manager.

In 1958, Pat and his uncle, Peter Quinn, opened their own store. It was called Quinn Co and was located on Main Street in Longford.

Promoting Music Shows

In the 1960s, Pat Quinn became a big name in music events in Ireland. He organized shows at Quinn County. Many popular music stars performed there. These included Joe Dolan, The Drifters, and the Royal Showband. It was at one of these shows in 1960 that he met Anne, who would become his wife.

Pat also learned a lot about the grocery and music business in Canada. He promoted concerts for famous artists there. Some of the stars he worked with were The Beach Boys, Johnny Cash, and The Supremes. He even helped introduce the Rolling Stones to North America in 1965. Their first concert in London, Ontario, was so popular that police had to be called!

Building a Supermarket Empire

H. Williams and Quinnsworth

In 1965, Pat Quinn returned to Ireland. He was hired as the general manager for the H Williams supermarket group. He suggested they open a new store in the Stillorgan Shopping Centre in Dublin. When they said no, Pat decided to open his own.

In December 1966, he opened his first Quinnsworth supermarket. It was in the Stillorgan Shopping Centre, inspired by the successful Woolworths stores. Pat and his wife Anne worked very hard. They would even clean the store together after it closed each evening. In just five years, Pat opened six stores and earned a lot of money.

Pat was very clever with his money. He once heard that it would cost £1,000 to have famous football player George Best open one of his stores. Pat decided to donate that money to charity instead. He believed he was famous enough to open the store himself!

Competing Stores

Quinnsworth had some rivals in Ireland. Other popular Irish supermarkets included Dunnes Stores and Superquinn. The Superquinn chain even had to change its name slightly. This was to avoid people getting it confused with Pat Quinn's Quinnsworth.

Selling Quinnsworth

In the early 1970s, Pat Quinn sold his Quinnsworth chain. He sold it to a company called Associated British Foods, owned by Galen Weston. Pat was only 36 years old when he became a millionaire from this sale.

By the time he sold Quinnsworth, his stores were in many places. These included Crumlin, Ballymun, Dundrum, Rathfarnham, Douglas, Wilton, Galway, and Shannon.

Advertising Style

Pat Quinn was famous for appearing in his own advertisements. He often wore a white polo neck jumper. This became a very recognizable look for him in the late 1960s. Sam Smyth, a writer for the Irish Independent, even called it a "fashion and retailing statement." Pat loved polo necks so much that he once wore a pink one to a funeral!

Other Business Ventures

Pubs and Hotels

After selling Quinnsworth, Pat Quinn bought several pubs in Ireland. He also set up a hotel and sports complex in Kilternan, County Dublin. He had big plans for this place. However, the 1973 oil crisis caused problems for his plans.

Pat also opened three pool halls. One was above the Stella cinema in Rathmines. Others were in Bray and Drogheda. He also started a special "executive coach service" for business people traveling around Ireland.

He also had discount stores in Ballymun and Finglas. There was also a snooker and gaming club in Ringsend and a shopping center on Dublin's South Great George's Street.

His last business in Ireland closed in early 1986. Pat Quinn then moved to Toronto, Canada, in 1986. He wanted to escape the difficult economic times in Ireland.

Later Years in Canada

In Canada, Pat Quinn first sold books and crisps. In 2001, he opened his first bar there. His family became well-known in Canada for their restaurants and pubs in Toronto. These include the "Irish Embassy" and "PJ O'Brien's." They also have a bar in Montreal.

Pat even appeared in the business section of the Toronto Star newspaper. This showed how successful he was in Canadian business. He also continued to promote music events after moving back to Canada.

Personal Life

Pat Quinn bought a large house in Killiney, Ireland. He also owned two fancy Rolls-Royce cars and a Mercedes for his family. He had three racehorses, and one was named "Lucky Leitrim."

Pat and his wife Anne spent their honeymoon in Toronto. This city later became their home for much of their lives. They had seven children: Bernard, Patrick, Lisa, Gavin, Paul, Tanya, and Barry-John. Two of his children became orthodontists. One works in the medical field. The other four children continued Pat's pub business in Canada.

His Death

Pat Quinn passed away in Canada on November 23, 2009. He was 74 years old. Many people remembered him fondly. Senator Feargal Quinn, who founded the rival Superquinn store, spoke about Pat. He said, "He certainly changed retailing in Ireland." He also remembered Pat always being on the microphone in his shops, giving away cars and houses.

Louis Copeland, the tailor who made Pat's suits for his advertisements, also shared a memory. He said, "I remember going to his house in Killiney and the phone never stopped, calls from people down the country looking for jobs. And Pat tried to fix something for all of them."

More than 800 people attended Pat Quinn's funeral. It was held at St. Michael's Cathedral on November 28, 2009. The mayor of Toronto was there. The singer Colm Wilkinson sang "Amazing Grace" at the service. The Irish ambassador to Canada, Declan Kelly, said that Pat and his wife were "the embodiment of Ireland."