L.A. actor to reopen Tom Bergin's &mdash; and the shamrocks stay

L.A. actor to reopen Tom Bergin’s — and the shamrocks stay

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The bar area at Tom Bergin’s is covered with shamrocks. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

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Behind the bar at Tom Bergin’s. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

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Exterior shot of Tom Bergin’s. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

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Friends chatting at the bar. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

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The bar area at Tom Bergin’s. (Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times)

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Former owners Brandon Boudet and Warner Ebbink. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)

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The restaurant and bar was known for its Irish coffee. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

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Customers at the bar. (Ringo H.W. Chiu / For the Times)

By Jenn Harris

Oct. 9, 2013 10:18 AM PT

Tom Bergin’s, the famed Irish pub on Fairfax Avenue that shocked many in July when it abruptly announced its closure, will reopen. The man behind the sale is an L.A. actor named Derek Schreck and he understands the importance of the shamrocks.

Schreck, who is currently in escrow with former owner Warner Ebbink, frequented the bar for years and calls it his “local.” He said he grew up in Las Vegas in the hospitality business and had always wanted to run a pub and restaurant.

“I live about 200 yards from the front door,” said Schreck. “I love it and I was just heart broken to hear that it was closing. I just said, ‘I want it.’ There was no way I was going to pass this up.”

PHOTOS: A look inside Tom Bergin’s

With the summer news of Bergin’s closure, some wondered what would happen to the hundreds of cardboard shamrocks painted with the names of regulars that covered the bar’s ceiling. The shamrocks, some fading after decades, some new and bright green, are proof that both old and new Hollywood drank there (Cary Grant to Keifer Sutherland).

“The shamrocks are staying,” said Schreck, whose name went on a shamrock last year. “Of course they are staying.”

Schreck will be the sole owner of the pub and his partner Jordan Delp will act as the general manager. Delp has worked at restaurants in New York City and Los Angeles and had worked at Tom Bergin’s previously.

T.K. Vodrey, who ran Tom Bergin’s for nearly 40 years, has been helping Schreck in an advisory role but has not been officially hired in any capacity.

“He knows everything about every brick and stone in that building,” said Schreck.

Schreck, who has had small roles in the films “The Mechanic” and “Stolen,” plans to make minimal changes to the interior and says the majority of changes will be made to the food menu and the drink offerings.

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