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PrintJ. Elliot Nelson
Occupation: Self-described "publican"
Age: 30
Since graduating from college, Nelson has opened seven eating/drinking establishments, starting with James E. McNellie’s Public House in 2004 and, most recently, the Dilly Deli in March 2009. His repertoire also includes a McNellie’s location in Oklahoma City, which opened in 2008.
Why did you choose your profession? I did a semester abroad in Dublin my junior year of college and fell in love with pub culture. I loved beer as well and I decided that I wanted to create a place that captured the spirit of an Irish pub and offered the best beer selection possible.
Signature scent? Lever 2000.
Favorite piece of art? I have a hand-drawn mock-up for a Quilmes Beer poster from the ’30s. The slogan is “Su Mejor Amiga” and it’s a man caressing a bottle of beer. It’s the perfect piece of art for me.
Favorite beverage? Guinness. I almost put this for my signature scent, too.
What’s in your CD player now? The Rolling Stones, “Exile on Main St.”
Favorite day of the week? Saturday. I spend the day with my family, usually eat lunch at Brownie’s and when I go to work, all the places are crowded. It’s the one day of the week I can enjoy them (the restaurants) instead of answering e-mails and phone calls all day. It reminds me of why I do what I do.
Favorite thing about Tulsa? McNellie’s. OK, that’s a shameless plug. The people, definitely the people.
Favorite gadget? Bluetooth phone in my car. It’s incredible. And, no, I’m not talking about one of those earpieces.
Favorite trend? Higher-quality consumables: craft beer, small batch whiskey, gourmet coffees, specialty meats and cheeses, organic produce, etc.
Biggest pet peeve? People who chew gum when they’re dressed up.
Favorite ritual? 10 a.m. pint of Guinness on St. Patrick’s Day.
Who would play you in a movie? Jeff Bridges.
Guilty pleasure? Sprinkled donuts.
Something people don’t know about you? I love shopping for my wife. I like to think that I have impeccable taste in women’s clothing. Of course, she’s beautiful, so it might just be that she makes everything I buy look good.
Favorite holiday? St. Patrick’s Day. It’s like Christmas for me. I keep trying to talk my wife into sending out St. Patrick’s Day cards instead of Christmas cards.
If you could do something else, what would it be? Major league middle relief pitcher.
Any nicknames? Uncle El (not from my nieces and nephews; my college roommates call me this).
Worst piece of advice you’ve ever received? You don’t want to open a pub in downtown Tulsa; it will never work.
Favorite professional job? Developing new concepts. I like creating a name, a logo, a floor plan, T-shirts, a marketing campaign, a menu, the interior design — it’s the creative process that keeps me going.
Favorite aspect of your job? My employees are incredible. They deserve as much of the credit as I do.
If you could be somewhere else, where would you be? The Stag’s Head, 1 Dame Court, Dublin, Ireland.
Last thing you do before bed? On a good night, kiss my wife. On a tired night, turn off the TV because I can’t get myself off the couch.
Why the interest in revitalizing downtown Tulsa? Every town I’ve fallen in love with, I’ve been drawn in by its downtown. It’s the heart and soul of a city, and ours was deteriorated and left for dead by a lot of people. I could probably make more money somewhere else, but by being downtown, I feel that I’m really making a difference in the community.
Where did the name James E. McNellie’s Public House originate? When I opened, Nelson’s Buffeteria was still open — so Nelson was out. The Irish side of my family is named Quigley, but with a name like Elliot, (and) having to grow up with “E.T.” jokes, I worried about “Quigley Down Under” references. I am a “James E.” and so is my dad, my grandfather and my son. People called my grandfather Nellie in high school, “Mc” means son of — so, technically, it’s named after my dad.
After Dilly Deli, what do you plan to open and where? I have two more projects, maybe three, planned for the Blue Dome District in the next year. One is an Asian concept and the other a small cocktail lounge. I am also building a pub on Main Street in Norman, which I am really excited about. And I’m going to build a pub on 11th Street, which I’m going in more of a gastro-pub direction with.
One wish for Tulsa’s future? Most of my good high school friends live somewhere else. Tulsa isn’t even on their radar. I hope that by the time my kids are graduating from college, they want to live in Tulsa, or it’s at least a viable option. If we can accomplish that, we’ve done a good job. There’s no reason that we can’t make Tulsa the best city under 1.5 million people in the country.
