The Black Rock scene will get a little livelier now that Smitty's is in town

Greg Smith, the man behind Smitty's of Black Rock. (Contributed photo)

Yes, the well-known Ray Kelly’s pub may now be history, but don’t worry Black Rockers a new establishment is now open and ready for your business: Smitty’s of Black Rock.

“After 20 years of being in the business, I wanted a chance to rum a place for myself,” said the new owner Greg Smith of Sandy Hook. “I put a lot of my own money into this place and I certainly think this is the right neighborhood to succeed in.”

The customers at the well-known pub, located in the heart of Black Rock at 2720 Fairfield Avenue, seem more than willing to accept the guy everyone knows as Smitty. A recent interview was interrupted when a patron presented Smitty with an old Celtic coin and wished him luck. The customer made the gesture because he knows that Smitty is of Irish descent.

“That’s what being in this business is all about,” explained Smitty. “It’s loyalty and enthusiasm and friendship.”

Most recently a managing partner at the recently McCoy’s in Stratford, Smith decided to strike out on his own. Ray Kelly’s was available and Smith jumped at the opportunity with a solid reason for doing so.

“This has always been a great spot for local bands and in recent years it’s gotten away from that, in fact the whole area has kind of gotten away from focusing on local bands,” Smith said. “I’ve got a background in working with bands and I want Ray Kelly’s to get back to being the spot for local bands.”

The new owner has a long history in booking bands, making a great amount of industry contacts when he was hiring musicians at the famed but now-defunct Tuxedo Junction in Danbury. His experience in working with local musicians is one of the factors driving him to make Ray Kelly’s a success.

Another force in Smith’s desire to succeed at his new bar is his Sandy Hook experience. A lifelong resident of the burg, he was devastated by the Sandy Hook School tragedy.

“I was devastated,” he said somberly. “I went to school there and grew up five houses away from the school. It changes your perspective about life.”

The publican also has a strong connection to Newtown’s school system as his mother, first grade teacher Emily Smith, is longest tenured teacher in the town. Despite his love for his hometown, however, Smith will be spending most of his waking moments from here on in and will probably move to the Park City.

“I’ve invested a lot of money and time in this place and I want to be a face that’s known around Black Rock and I want to patronize my fellow Black Rock business owners,” said Smitty as he chomped on a corned beef Reuben sandwich purchased at nearby Brennan’s Shebeen. “I’m a hands on type of guy.”

Besides live bands, Smitty’s of Black Rock will start an Open Mic night on Wednesday night’s beginning in February. The pub already features karaoke on Thursdays and DJ Matty every Saturday night.

“I knew I wanted my own place one night at McCoy’s my customers were Stratford mayor John Harkins, a couple of Hell’s Angels and a couple of gay fellows who were making out at the end of the bar,” recalled Smitty. “I thought you know in this business you can meet people from all walks of life and I think that’s great.”