History & Press - Brennan's Fish House

The Foundation of

Brennan's Fish House

The building that houses Brennan's Fish House was built in 1865 at the end of the Civil War; it was built as a hotel called the Richmond Inn. It never really took off as a hotel so the owners put in pool tables and started selling beer & fish to the local fishermen.

George & Martha Evans ran a diner here called Evan’s Lunch from 1927-1966. They raised their 10 children upstairs in the hotel rooms.

In 1966 Harry & Helen Jones bought the building & Harry ran it as a bar called “Harry’s” until 1973. Harry & Helen also lived in the rooms upstairs.

Tim & Betty Brennan took ownership in 1973 & ran it as Brennan’s Fish House. The Brennan’s expanded the original structure to add more dining space & turned it into the well known & loved restaurant it is today.

Sharon & Steve Hill purchased Brennan’s in 2006.

Interesting Facts

About The Area

This building has never been closed! It has housed families and customers for over 150 years. The artifacts on the walls were given to the Brennan’s or me by people in our community. People want their precious possessions here for all to enjoy. I take this gift very seriously, sometimes I feel like a caretaker of a museum! The shelves we use to hold our liquor bottles, at the bar, were built in the very early 1900s. We have a picture hanging in the restaurant of George Evans, in front of that bar, from when the Evan’s owned the building. The parking lot is made up of 10 parcels…this is where the fishermen & their families lived in little houses.

This was a very rough area early in its history; there were many bars down here along the river. There is a picture of “Pearl” on our walls. Pearl was a local saloon keeper, one tough lady! She kept a small knife in the belt around her dress and if you were acting up she would throw you out.. She also was an opera singer and married about 5 times, so I am sure quite a character.

The building across the street from us, once was a fish processing plant. The fishermen would bring their catch up to the plant, the fish would be processed, loaded into wooden boxes (built by the local boys) packed with ice and put on trains to go to market.

The railroad tracks that run next to our building have been repaired and are now being used by a company called the Grand River Railway Co. They haul salt from Morton Salt right passed Brennan’s to be shipped off to other areas of the country. It is very exciting to be sitting here and have this beautiful locomotive pass right by you.