They came from Nashville, Las Vegas, Texas, Idaho and beyond. People poured into Fountain Valley near the end of November to be a part of Silky Sullivan’s Restaurant and Irish Pub’s final weekend before closing after 40 years.
“It was amazing,” said Silky’s co-owner Bill Madden. “They came in just to be part of the farewell tour! It was overwhelming to me.”
Silky’s opened in September 1984 in a building that formerly housed the Fountain Valley Post Office. Madden, his brother, Dan, and Rob Robertson spent more than a year converting the building into an Irish pub that would become one of Fountain Valley’s most iconic landmarks.
“When we opened in 1984, 'Cheers' was the No. 1 show in America,” Madden said. “Silky’s became 'Cheers'. It was the place where you went to get way from all your troubles.”
Located across from Fountain Valley City Hall, Silky’s attracted locals not only for their inviting menu and libations, but for outrageous attractions – from Pub Night Bingo to Taco Tuesdays to weekly trivia nights.
“Silky’s is always about celebrations. First dates, people getting married, celebrations of life and more,” Madden said.
So, looking back, what were some of the more popular events Silky’s hosted?
“We created a St. Patrick’s Day party that was second to none,” Madden said.
That included erecting a massive tent in the restaurant’s parking lot. With members of the Knights of Columbus from Holy Spirit Catholic Church volunteering to control parking, Silky’s would serve up corned beef and cabbage dinners in the tent on March 17 every year.
Then there were the annual Halloween parties.
“We decided we wanted to have a Halloween party and had all our employees dress up,” Madden said. “Richard Improta, whose band performed here, was also the set director for ‘Married with Children.’ He did the decorating and took our Halloween party to a new level. That’s why it became such a tradition. People came dressed phenomenally.” Silky’s is named after the famous racehorse, Silky Sullivan. “We wanted to make a big deal about derby day. We would put on a 6K race at Mile Square Park and then everyone would come back to Silky’s to watch the derby,” Madden said. “We made it a fundraiser for the Fountain Valley High School track team. Everyone who finished the race received a rose.”
Trivia Nights became a popular attraction. “We wanted to develop something that was a little bit different, so we developed a ‘cash table’ like a TV show called Cash Cab,” Madden said. “Cash Cab” featured contestants who climbed into a cab and then unknowingly learned they could win money by answering questions correctly on the way to their location.
“We thought it would be fun to have something similar. We would walk up their table and ask them trivia questions. We gave away thousands of dollars,” Madden said.
Madden said their Pub Night Bingo, “turned out to be of the most successful thigs we did here. We basically just gave out prizes.”
Inspired by a friend in Utah whose bar also hosted bingo nights, the Maddens and Robertson started hosting bingo on Wednesday nights, which Madden said became one of their busiest nights.
Madden’s love and devotion to Notre Dame football led to weekly Notre Dame Football Watch events. “I’m the biggest Notre Dame football fan who ever lived,” Madden said. “Notre Dame football took me all over the world. I was in Dublin last year when Notre Dame played Navy. Silky’s became the headquarters for the Notre Dame Club of Orange County.”
For over 40 years, Silky’s hosted a golf tournament which raised a combined $200,000 for Fountain Valley High School athletics.
“We’ve given away hundreds of scholarships. I don’t believe there’s any other tournament in Orange County that’s been run that long,” Madden said.
In 2009, Silky’s held its 25th anniversary party.
“Twenty-five years is a long time. Restaurants don’t usually last that long,” Madden said. It was a special night. We created boards with photos from all those years. We also printed some 25th anniversary glassware.
“Silky Sullivan’s is so blessed to have employees who enjoyed staying here and working here, Madden added. “That’s what makes the atmosphere here. People getting away from their troubles and hanging out with their friends.”
At 1:45 a.m. each night Silky’s closes with those still in the bar singing along to the Cheers theme song.