How two ‘Yankees’ won over Richmond, making their restaurant an EKU institution

The Big Apple may seem awfully far away here in Kentucky, but two Brooklyn born brothers turned Commonwealth lifers have helped to bridge the gap.

It took time and a lot of work bringing a taste of New York to the quaint college town of Richmond. But nearly 40 years later, brothers Tom and Steve Thilman are proud of their Madison Garden Bar and Grill. They’ve seen it become a dining tradition passed among generations of Eastern Kentucky University alumni and how it brings Colonel fans together.

“At first it was a wary acceptance by the community to us ‘Yankees,’” said Tom Thilman. “Over time the neighborhood, the county and Madison Garden become a very positive intermingling of each other. We never dreamed we would have a business this big, successful and popular with families and EKU students and alumni stretching generations. I am truly happy.”

How Madison Garden Bar and Grill was started

After receiving his associates degree from The State University of New York in 1973, Brooklyn native Tom Thilman quickly got a full-time job driving a small truck as a member of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. However, driving the streets of New York City quickly became tiresome, leading Thilman longing to return to a college atmosphere. In August of 1974 he moved to Richmond to enroll at Eastern Kentucky University. The following year Thilman started a job as a clerk at Big Daddy Liquor on the corner of Main Street and Madison Avenue, quickly working his way up to manager a couple of years later.

Thilman realized how much he enjoyed the easygoing Kentucky lifestyle relative to the hustle and bustle of New York. He also noticed the need for an influx of new small businesses in Richmond, particularly a neighborhood bar and grill. So her took his managerial experience and began his own entrepreneurial adventure with his brother Steve, whom he recruited down from New York to launch Madison Garden Bar and Grill in 1982.

Madison Garden got its namesake from the world famous Madison Square Garden in the brothers’ native New York City. It was founded as a craft beer bar in the former Kennedy’s Hardware building in downtown Richmond on the same corner as the liquor store that Tom first worked at when he moved to town. After only serving beer at launch, the bar got its liquor license shortly after opening and, around the same time began grilling and serving burgers, brats, hot dogs and more from it’s back deck prior to a kitchen expansion in the early 1990s.

In the mid 1990s, another expansion took place with the addition of the “EKU Colonel Dome.” Over the years the room has been a regular hang-out for EKU athletes, students and alumni. It’s filled wall-to-wall with EKU athletic memorabilia ranging from the basketball to field hockey teams. But the centerpiece of the room is one of the goal posts from legendary football coach Roy Kidd’s 300th win at the school.

Madison Garden’s menu

Many of the dishes served up by Madison Garden’s kitchen are inspired by traditional family recipes from the Thilman’s grandmother. They include a recipe of homemade marinara sauce used in all pasta dishes and “Almost” New York pizza pies. The Chicken Porzio (a grilled chicken breast smothered in garlic butter and “Ma Porzio” seasoning served over vermicelli pasta) is named in her honor.

However, despite the strong Italian and Brooklyn flavors on Madison Garden’s menu, roughly 70% of the establishment’s food sales are from their bone-in and boneless wings prepared with a specially made dry rub seasoning called “The Buff Stuff” (also available for purchase by the jar).

Other popular menu items include the Deli Hero sandwich served hot and paying homage to the Thilman’s native Brooklyn with vegetables and deli cuts of roast beef, ham and pepperoni. Then there’s a spin-off of the Chicken Porzio called Ian Allman’s Pasta after a former Madison Garden cook who loved the meal so much that he’d make it for himself on breaks and personalize it by adding bacon, mushrooms, onions and tomatoes.

The Garden is also known for their “EveryFartsAGamble” Chili that has won first prize on multiple occasions at Red Mile’s annual chili cook-off.

Madison Garden’s drink, bar menu

Just as it’s food menu features a diverse range of flavors, so does Madison Garden’s drink menu with mixed cocktails like the Liquid Marijuana, the Pixie Stick and Lemon Drop shots, among others.

The bar also houses 127 bourbons, the largest selection in Richmond, and includes several delicacies from Buffalo Trace and Pappy Van Winkle to go with a 25-year-old Orphan Barrel Rhetoric bottle valued at $140 and an 11.5 year old Cream Of Kentucky valued at $150. Over 100 beers (including eight on tap), rum buckets, bomb shots and various red and white wines round out the drink menu.

“I enjoyed trying to come up with a diverse menu of drinks that you could find both at an upscale cocktail bar in the city and at college town club,” said Jason Vaughn, Madison Garden’s general manager since 2011.

COVID and community support

A mainstay in the community for decades, Madison Garden hasn’t been immune to the struggles faced by small businesses both locally and nationwide much of this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and dining mandates put in place to try to thwart the spread of the virus. When the pandemic started they quickly pivoted to offer curbside and delivery service through DoorDash and Colonel Delivery, closing only once over the holidays.

In the meantime, Vaughn says he has been working with laid off employees, particularly those with families to support, to give them shifts when available, at the same time adding how grateful he is for how the community has stepped up to support the business during difficult times.

“We’re very fortunate for the support we’ve received thus far during the pandemic that’s allowed us to survive,” said Vaughn. “Tom, Steve and I are very appreciative of the community. It’s been apparent that after being a part of the community for 38 years and counting that people didn’t want to see us go.”

Madison Garden Bar and Grill

Where: 152 North Madison Avenue, Richmond

Hours: Open 4-9 p.m. Wednesday; Thursday 4-11 p.m.; Friday, Saturday 11 a.m.-11 p.m. (carryout only 11 p.m.-12 a.m.); Sunday 1-11 p.m.; closed Monday-Tuesday

Online: MadisonGarden.net