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By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor
MONTAGUE — Oceana County native Danny Zuniga’s entrepreneurial spirit has led him to purchasing three bars within 6 miles in two years.
Two years ago, he bought the Rothbury Tavern and renamed it Danny’z Rothbury Tavern. Then about a year later, Zuniga bought the former Big Cat Daddy Walleye in Montague and converted it to Big Shotz Bar. Now, he has taken over ownership of Jimmy’s Pub in Montague and renamed it Jimmy’z Pub.
The popular downtown pub and eatery at 8720 Ferry St. was owned by Jimmy Atchison for about 20 years. It previously was the Talk of the Town.
The energetic Zuniga’s successful real estate career sparked his recent business acquisitions.
“Rothbury was close to my heart. My real estate career started there. I wanted to list the bar, and I ended up buying the bar,” he said of his first bar acquisition, Danny’z Rothbury Tavern.
Zuniga, 57, grew up in Rothbury, the youngest of eight children.
As a young man, he worked at the former leather tannery in Whitehall and started bartending on the side at the Rothbury Tavern. His dynamic personality resulted in a recruitment into the real estate field.
He bought Oceana Realty in Rothbury after nine months in the field. He was amazed by the support from his local community after he launched the new career. He eventually turned his real estate operation into a Greenridge Realty franchise to handle growing technology advancements. When his son Dylan became a realtor, they began the Zuniga Real Estate Team.
In addition to the pub on the main floor, the Jimmy’z location includes two upstairs apartments as well as a basement.
“My goal for this is to do something fun with the lower level, because it opens up to the new social district area, where you can walk around from bar to bar with your drinks. I’m going to use that opportunity to open that up and have some entertainment. I’m going to do something to add traffic to the lower level.
“At the RT, I added a fun yard; at Big Shotz I added a fun yard; and that’s going to be my fun place. That’s probably the most significant change I will make at Jimmy’z. That will give us about 30 percent more floor space.”
He also plans to update the bathrooms among other improvements.
Zuniga has made major improvements at his other two bars, including new flooring. “I’ve been fixing things no one can see — all new plumbing, all new heating, all new electric,” he said of the Rothbury location. “We added a kitchen and menu.” At Big Shotz, he added new furniture, new plumbing and new kitchen equipment.
“My favorite compliment at all my bars is: ‘It smells so nice and clean in here.’” Zuniga hired a janitor for cleaning his bars, so the responsibility is not left with the bartenders at the end of a long night.
On Thursdays at Danny’z RT, they offer Mexican food specials, Mexican karaoke and Mexican bingo — celebrating the diversity of the local area as well as his family’s heritage.
“With the three businesses, now that I own them all, I am really hoping to create some fun times and some connectivity between the three — maybe some group events or poker runs.
“Between the three bars, we have a great relationship with the customers in offering good food, good times and safe times.”
Zuniga said he doesn’t plan to make staff changes at his newest location. “My bartenders make good money — I pay above average. The most important thing about a business is the people. I can’t do any of this without them. These are my family.”
The businessman does not take a “behind-the-scenes” approach. He dives into the action, serving drinks, serving food, and helping his staff. Not one for vacationing, Zuniga enjoys working. “I’m not a good relaxer. I cannot sit still. If I go on vacation, I am always antsy to do something.
“People say, ‘When do you have fun?’” He answers, “I’m having fun all the time.”
For more information about the bars, visit their Facebook pages: Jimmy’z Pub; Danny’z Rothbury Tavern; and Big Shotz Bar.
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