Clodagh Lawless

Clodagh Lawless
Partner, The Dearborn

“Whether we like it or not, it’s in our blood,” exclaims Clodagh Lawless, Partner at Chicago’s beloved restaurant The Dearborn. For the Irish-born entrepreneur, a deep-rooted love of genuine Irish hospitality evolved naturally as her true calling.

For Clodagh Lawless, hospitality has never been just a career-it’s a way of life. Raised in Galway, Ireland, in a family that ran restaurants and a hotel, she grew up learning that the real work happens behind the scenes: washing dishes, tending bar, helping wherever help was needed. Those early years shaped her belief that great hospitality is built on care, humility, and respect for the people who make it all happen.

After earning a BA in Economics and Spanish from the National University of Ireland Galway and completing a postgraduate degree in Business, Sales, and Marketing at the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology-where she graduated as Valedictorian-Lawless set off on what she thought would be a short visit to the United States. A summer working at a suburban Chicago pub quickly reminded her how deeply the restaurant business was part of who she was. That experience sparked a bigger idea-and a bold move.

Lawless returned to Ireland and convinced her family to take a leap of faith and relocate to Chicago. Together, Clodagh and her dad, Billy, opened The Irish Oak in Wrigleyville, where she took on the responsibility of running day to day operations and administration. Those years were formative, teaching her how to build systems, lead teams, and navigate the realities of a fast paced, people driven business. Day to day multitasking.

She later helped bring The Gage and Henri (now Acanto) to life on Michigan Avenue, serving as business manager across three restaurants and gaining a deeper understanding of Chicago’s chef driven dining scene. But it was in 2016, when she co founded The Dearborn with her sister, Amy, that Lawless fully stepped into her role as a founder.

Built on trust, complementary leadership styles, and a shared vision, The Dearborn reflects what matters most to Lawless: creating a place where guests feel genuinely welcome and teams feel supported, valued, and proud of their work. She credits the restaurant’s success not to any one individual, but to strong leadership, clear roles, and a culture that puts people first.

That philosophy continues to guide her growth. In June 2025, Lawless expanded The Dearborn with a second location in Terminal 5 at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, and she is currently preparing to open an additional restaurant in the North Center neighborhood in late 2026.

Beyond her own restaurants, Lawless is deeply committed to the broader hospitality community. She serves on the advisory board of the Chicago Ireland Network, is a long standing member of the Irish Fellowship of Chicago, and sits on the Executive Board of Directors of the Illinois Restaurant Association, where she currently serves as Vice Chair and is set to become Chairwoman in February 2027.

Today, Lawless lives in Chicago’s Portage Park neighborhood with her husband, Colm, and their two sons. Whether leading teams, opening new spaces, or advocating for the industry she loves, she remains guided by the same values she learned early on: work hard, take care of people, and create places where everyone feels they belong.

“Do not wait to strike till the iron is hot; but make it hot by striking.”
-William Butler Yeats