SANDPOINT — It was the start of something special.

Twenty years ago today, on St. Patrick's Day, Mickey Mahoney and his brother, Duffy, took a chance on a dream.

Before launching MickDuff's — a combination of their first names — the Mahoney brothers weren’t even in the brewpub or restaurant industry.

They grew up in western Washington before finding their way to Pullman, where they both attended Washington State University.

Mickey Mahoney, then 27, worked in prosthetics, and his brother, Duffy, then 26, worked as a train conductor and was also a pilot. Still, the brothers shared a passion for brewing beer and believed they could create something special.

“Mickey and Duffy are two brothers who left promising careers to take a leap of faith and start their dream together,” said longtime manager Catarina Sukmungsa. “This year marks 20 years since that day, and I could not be more proud to be a part of it.”

Sukmungsa and fellow MickDuff's employees praised the brothers for not only building successful businesses but treating their staff — and the community — like family.

“I’ve had a front-row seat to watching them create something truly special, a magical niche within the service industry and within our small town,” Sukmungsa said. “They are kind, innovative, intelligent and compassionate people who have immersed themselves deeply in our community. What they have built goes far beyond just a business.”

Once they decided to follow their dream, the brothers opened MickDuff's, starting with a combined brewing facility and brewpub on First Avenue. A few years later, the site became too small, and the pair realized it was time to find a new home.

Their attention soon turned to the historic building down the street and around the corner.

Although their first offer on the old federal building was rejected, the initial bid eventually fell through. In 2019, the Mahoneys made a second offer. For 15 months, the pair juggled running their First Avenue brewpub and renovating the historic building, carefully coordinating with state officials to ensure the work complied with its status on the National Register of Historic Places.

The renovation earned them an Orchid Award in 2021, given by the State of Idaho for outstanding contributions to historic preservation.

Over the past 20 years, the brewing company has grown from the brothers and their immediate family to more than 80 employees. While the restaurant industry often sees high turnover, some MickDuff's employees have been with the Mahoneys nearly as long as the business has been open.

“That alone says so much about the kind of environment they have created,” Sukmungsa said.

Employees say the brothers make them feel like family, praising them as kind, dedicated and committed to quality. They take care to ensure their beer and food use healthy ingredients and never scrimp on quality.

“While working at MickDuff's, I got married, had my third baby, finished college and got divorced,” said employee Niki Chamberlain, who worked at the brewpub for almost nine years before leaving to pursue other ventures. “The owners are very supportive of their employees and what is going on in their lives.”

That feeling of family runs deep — from the brothers through the staff and to the customers. Employees say the Mahoneys give them the tools they need to succeed and thrive, both at work and in their personal lives.

“Their leadership is different because of how they are able to get you to be the best you can be with encouragement, communication and support,” said Jordan Palmer, who has worked at MickDuff's for 17 years.

Sukmungsa agreed.

“They treat their employees with kindness and respect and genuinely care about the people who work for them,” she said. “They encourage people to chase their dreams and often serve as stepping stones that help employees get where they want to go.”

Current and former employees praised the brothers for their dedication to the community, their customers and their workers. They said the Mahoneys’ influence has given them deep friendships and unwavering support.

“Mickey and Duffy have had a tremendous impact on my life by helping me start and grow my own small business,” said Carmen Rowland, who worked at MickDuff's for four years. “Even though I’m no longer at MickDuff’s, they continue to support me on my own journey, and I can’t thank them enough.”

Employees said the brothers want everyone who works for them — or walks through the doors as a customer — to be the best version of themselves, whether at MickDuff's or somewhere else.

“What they have created is not just a place that sells great beer and great food,” Sukmungsa said. “It is an atmosphere for both employees and customers that feels welcoming, comforting and like family. Once you walk through the doors, you feel like you have become part of something bigger.”

Employees said the pair are among the best employers they've ever had, going out of their way to support them, give them advice and help them launch their own endeavors.

“Personally, I would not be the person I am today without the things I have learned and experienced working there,” Palmer said. “I have learned so much about people and responsibility. They have amazing advice and strive to make their employees happy with what they are doing.”

They congratulated the brothers on MickDuff's 20th anniversary, saying the Mahoneys’ passion for what they do — and for their community — shines through in every aspect of their work.

“Over the years they have watched Sandpoint change and grow, just like all of us have,” Sukmungsa said. “Through all those changes, they have worked hard to keep the spirit of the old Sandpoint alive while also being part of the positive growth happening in our town.”

Employees said they are happy to be able to celebrate the pair — and all they have achieved over the past two decades.

“You’ve truly created something special,” Rowland said.

    A few of MickDuff's employees pose for a recent photo.
  

    Mickey and Duffy Mahoney are pictured with the Orchid Award. The pair received the award from the state of Idaho for their renovation of the MickDuff's building, once home to the community's original federal building.