Mercantile & Capital Bars Group merge

Frank Gleeson’s Mercantile and Danu Investment Partners’ Capital Bars Groups, two of Dublin’s leading hospitality venue operators, have merged their businesses to create one chain of outlets under an enlarged Mercantile Group which will have an income of about €40 million per year and which employs around 600.

Before the merger, the Mercantile Group was controlled by Frank Gleeson, one of Dublin’s leading entertainment venue operators for the past 20 years while the Capital Bars Group was controlled by the Dublin-based private investment firm led by Mark O’Meara, Leonard Ryan, Michael O’Rourke and US-based investor group EMI-MR Investment LLC.

The enlarged Group now comprises:

Café en Seine, East Side Tavern, The Mercantile Hotel, The George, Opium, The Green Hen, Pichet, Marcel’s, Howl at the Moon, Soder & Ko (formerly The Dragon) and Whelan’s of Wexford Street. A new bar/club/restaurant located in Powerscourt Town House on South William Street is due to launch this Spring.

Frank Gleeson heads up the new Mercantile Group as Chief Executive and key shareholder. He’ll oversee the continued development and expansion of the business aided by a management team of highly experienced individuals from both the Mercantile and Capital Bars Groups.

The new entity plans a significant capital expenditure programme.

“This is a transformational deal for our businesses and will position the Mercantile Group at the forefront of the sector in Dublin,” commented Frank Gleeson.

The Group also aims to expand internationally.