Before the death of his mom in October, Taylor Killday had no idea he’d be running McGinty’s Wood Oven Pub in Divide. The late Tracy McGinty opened the restaurant in November 2010 after closing Killday’s Coffee and Deli on the upper level of the center at Colo. 67 and U.S. 24. Eight year s after opening the pub, McGinty added the sports bar. A community gathering place, McGinty’s adds a vibrant flair to Divide. “I worked here in high school, bartended and waited tables through college,” Killday said. Comfortable working the bar, Killday is quickly learning the rest of the business, the paperwork, for instance.   “It’s exciting, but how much work it is to own a restaurant, I had no clue,” he said. Before October, Killday was self-employed as the owner of a construction business, building decks and doing finished carpentry. “I’m wrapping things up because the restaurant is where my focus is now,” he said. “Construction was just me, but this is 25 families.” The families represent the number of employees. “The staff is incredible; if it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t do it,” he said. “Everyone has given me a ton of support.” Adapting to his new role, Killday intends to keep things mostly the same with maybe a few additions to the menu.  “We’re bringing back a little bit more of the Irish, such as the reuben egg rolls, Irish nachos, most of what my mom had originally,” he said.   The Friday fish fry will definitely stay. “We use haddock; we will never use cod,” he said. “Haddock is what my grandpa, Pat McGinty, did. He owned a bar in Buffalo.” For the menu, including new items, Killday relies on McGinty’s chef Larissa Vendola. “She keeps the kitchens locked down so I don’t have to do much,” he said. “She does the ordering and all that; she’s been great back there.” Hamburgers, made with beef from the local PBJ Cattle Co. and the Patrick McGinty, named for Taylor’s middle name., are among the best sellers.  “It’s a chicken sandwich with barbecue sauce, bacon and avocado; it’s my favorite,” he said. The sports bar is the place to be, especially during football games, especially when the Broncos play. For every touchdown scored by the team, Killday offers shots of Jello and vodka. The photos in the bar add the ambience, particulary the autographed one of John Elway, #7.  “I waited in line forever for his autograph when I was about 12,” said the 32-year-old Killday. There’s the Avlanche’s Joe Sakic, the actor John Wayne and several tributes to the military.   The bar has everything a bar is supposed to have, the photos, the bar stools, the mirror showcasing  bottles of liquor and ale, along with several televisions. “We get every NFL game,” he said. Taylor and his wife Allie were married in July.   “Allie used to work here, too, bartending,” he said. “She understands what it takes to run a restaurant.” The two are a team. She works another job but helps when she can, Killday said. “Losing McGinty’s would be such a shame; all the hard work my mom did. Closing wasn’t even an option,” he said. “It’s just the right thing to do and I’m excited about it.” McGinty’s is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. ...read more read less