Three Irish students spent their summer behind the bar at Hoboken’s Texas Arizona and River Street, part of the J-1 visa program that brings international college students to the United States for seasonal work.
Bar owner Pat Light, who also owns McSwiggan's Pub, The Waiting Room, and Green Rock, said the idea came through business partner Tara Mullins.
“One of our bars has Irish heritage, so this was a natural fit,” Light said. He noted that the program helped fill staffing shortages during the summer season while giving his team a chance to learn from a different hospitality culture.
The bartenders, Tiegan Smith, Melissa Bundschu, and Saidbh Harte, all grew up together in Letterkenny, Ireland, where they attended the same secondary school. The J1 program was already familiar to them, especially to Harte, whose sister once participated.
“It’s very common in Ireland, they've done it for decades," Harte said.
Now college students living in Dublin and Belfast, the three friends decided to spend their summer working in Hoboken. Light said their presence quickly made an impact. “The way bars are run in Ireland is different. It’s good for my staff and for me to learn from that, the girls have been a phenomenal addition,” he said.
For the bartenders, Hoboken was not the first place they expected to land.
“Hoboken wasn’t even top ten for us,” Bundschu said. “We got the job before we even saw pictures of the city. Honestly, it was a hidden gem.”
The three friends quickly grew fond of the city, spending evenings at the pier, strolling along Washington Street, and discovering local coffee shops and restaurants. They said the small-town feel paired with New York City’s skyline just across the river made Hoboken feel special.
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Working in the U.S. came with adjustments. “Back home, all the bottles are lined up with measurements. It’s easy, it’s done,” Harte explained. “But here, it’s kind of just one, two, three. And we don’t have tipping at home, so getting tips here was exciting and really nice.”
They said their coworkers helped them through the busiest nights. “They saved us a thousand times over,” Smith said. “Jefferson, Gustavo, Orlando, Alejandro, Pedro, and John have been so good to us.”
Shifts often ran late into the night, but the experience was rewarding. They built relationships with regulars and felt at home in Hoboken’s bar community. Outside of work, they spent their free time exploring New York City and finding favorite local spots, including Mulligan’s and Grimaldi’s.
Light said the program was successful and something he hopes to repeat. “Summer is always a difficult time to get good workers,” he said. “Customers loved them, and my staff learned from them too. I’d imagine we’d do it every year.”
For Tiegan, Melissa, and Saidbh, the summer in Hoboken was more than just a job. It was a chance to live abroad, gain experience, and share a bit of Ireland with the community, all while doing it together.
*This article was originally published on TAPinto Hoboken.
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