Hare and Hound owner looks back on 15 years 

LANDRUM – “I stood looking out that window with tears running down my face, thinking, ‘What have I just done’”? said Patty Otto, owner of the Hare and Hound Pub in Landrum.  

Friday’s snow brought back memories for Otto, when 15 years ago last week, she had just closed on the purchase of the restaurant. That day Landrum was closed down, the streets were covered in ice and Otto couldn’t see a single car downtown.  

The town was iced in for a week Otto said. Many didn’t have power, but they knew the Hare and Hound would be open.  

“We opened early for coffee,” she said. “We let those who had no power use the showers here. Now it’s a joke in town that no matter the weather, the Hare and Hound will be open.” 

Otto said despite her fears that day, she wouldn’t do anything differently. When she purchased the restaurant, they had less than 20 employees. Today Otto has 62 people on staff, many who have been with her more than 10 years. 

The restaurant is housed in the 104-year-old Bomar Thomson Mercantile building at the corner of East Rutherford and North Trade streets. Today the building still has the original oak floors and many of the wooden beams. Otto has added lots of horse pictures, including many of local events such as the Budweiser Clydesdales coming to Landrum. Another change is the modern TVs showing sports events. 

The feel of an Irish or English pub permeates the building. The tongue and groove wall board, the friendly bar, even the food brings in a “Cheers” like feeling of being somewhere where people know each other and gather to talk horses and family. One can imagine Carter Brown or F. Scott Fitzgerald stopping in for a pint on their way to the Low Country races. 

Otto said her staff, customers and the town of Landrum are like family to her now and she can’t imagine not being here. “I had a five-year plan,” she said. I was going to sell it in five years. I’m on my third five-year plan.” 

Otto credits the hard work of her staff consistently serving up good food and service to the restaurant’s success. She said she owes a lot to her customers, some of whom have been with her since day one.  

The Hare and the Hound is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. They serve some typical Irish and English pub style food, but the menu expands to include everything from steaks and seafood to hamburgers. They also offer catering and a brunch on Sundays.