Our Team
Jim Arnoldt
Founder
Jim Arnoldt — Founder & Owner
Originally from Chicago with proud roots in Ireland, Jim Arnoldt built the SNUG from a simple, honest idea: create a place to hang out with friends, share a great Guinness, and savor an exceptional Irish whiskey list. His passion for Irish whiskey began around a dining room table — Green Spot in hand, playing games and swapping stories — and that warmth and camaraderie became the blueprint for the pub.
With a vision for building something meaningful, Jim combines big-picture thinking with hands-on care. He sets the tone for everything we do: welcoming, knowledgeable, and a little bit cheeky. Under his guidance, the SNUG pours top Irish whiskeys, hosts traditional music and tastings, and offers a cozy, community-first spot where family, friends, and neighbors always feel at home.
Carey Shea
Owner, Bar Manager
Carey Shea found his first love behind the bar at Cerulean in Indianapolis, where the rhythm of service and the alchemy of spirits sparked a devotion to bartending. Trained as an actor, Carey spent years performing across the city and was a proud member of Irvington’s Eclectic Pond, staging inventive Shakespeare adaptations in a building just a few blocks from where he now pours.
At the Snug, Carey brings a performer’s attention to detail and a bartender’s commitment to simplicity and elegance. His cocktails are well-balanced and unpretentious: precise techniques, thoughtful ingredients, and an eye for what makes each guest’s experience feel special. Focused and approachable, Carey builds strong relationships with patrons and colleagues alike, connecting people to the right drink with clarity and care.
Tim Barrett — originally from Southern Indiana and now owner of the SNUG — crafts the story of our cozy Irvington pub with the same care he brings to every dram. A video producer by trade and a storyteller by nature, Tim creates content that documents and shares the SNUG’s warmth, community, and love of Irish whiskey with anyone who will listen. He’s passionate about celebrating the pub’s seasonal menus, curated whiskey list, and the traditions that make the SNUG so special
Creative and strategic in equal measure, Tim helps our message find the right audience. An avid storyteller and the dungeon master of the original D&D campaign that brought him, Jim, and Carey together, Tim forged friendships over sips of whiskey and tales of epic adventure.
Tim Barrett
Owner, Storyteller
Blythe Kinsey
Owner, Interior Design
Blythe Kinsey — Chicago native and long time Irvington resident, Blythe brought her love of community and design to SNUG, creating the warm, welcoming atmosphere patrons love. From the whimsical squirrel light fixture to the iconic red fox wallpaper, Blythe’s eye for detail shapes every corner of the pub. She curates the books, glassware, and gifts collected from friends and neighbors on trips to Ireland, ensuring each piece tells a story and invites conversation.
Blythe designs with seasonal charm in mind, so the SNUG feels cozy and festive year‑round. Her thoughtful touches and commitment to hospitality ensure every guest’s experience is complete from the moment they step inside. The SNUG’s character and comfort wouldn’t be the same without her steady hand and generous spirit.
Lesley Meier — Event Planner, Snug Whiskey Club
An Indianapolis native and long-time Irvington resident, Lesley brings 20 years of event planning experience and a love of community to the SNUG. Starting in the early 2000s in her Irvington art space, she curated art shows, ran a gallery and organized and taught community art classes. With Indy Parks she produced concerts and movie nights, ran day camps and planned Indy Parks summer programs—ranging from neighborhood gatherings to citywide cultural events.
A former actress, theater teacher and arts administrator turned therapist, Lesley’s creativity and calm, compassionate leadership treats events as storytelling: honoring place, people, and memory. At the Snug she crafts experiences celebrating Irvington, Irish spirits, and local businesses through thoughtful branding and collaboration.
