[ad_1]
Before you step foot into O’Connor’s Restaurant and Bar, we’re committed to providing you with first-class hospitality. The tagline reads: “Welcome…we mean it!”
That’s what Brendan O’Connor and his wife, Claire, want every guest to receive when they walk through the doors of O’Connor’s Restaurant and Bar in Worcester, Massachusetts. This family-owned business became a legendary institution, serving classic Irish cuisine and a warm welcome for the better part of 40 years.
Brendan, 60, told IrishStar.com: “We cashed in our chips, sold everything in Ireland and set off and said ‘we’re not going back’.”
Brendan and Claire both studied at Shannon Hotel Management College in County Limerick, where they grew up, but met several years later while training in Scotland. They opened several restaurants together in their 20s in cities around the world.
In 1989, with a young son and an unfulfilled thirst for adventure, the couple decided to pursue the American dream and open a restaurant in Massachusetts. When a space came on the market, they jumped at the chance to explore the city of Worcester.
“Sometimes you have to think outside the box,” Brendan said. “When we discovered Worcester, we did research on the census, which showed it to be the most Irish-American city in the country. Over 40 percent of the population Claims Irish ancestry.
“We opened in April of 1989, and we were busy the minute we opened. We started with 100 seats and ended up with 500 seats. We had an incredible staff. We just worked, worked, worked our butts off. ”
O’Connors has been voted one of the best Irish restaurants in the country multiple times. It was named the Best Irish Pub in Massachusetts in 2021 by Taste of Mass.
As Brendan and Claire find themselves climbing the ladder of success, they put their family values at the forefront. Raising two children, they must learn how to balance family and professional life.
Brendan said: “We’re always closed on Sundays and we’ll put a sign outside the door that says: ‘We’re closed on Sundays.
“I think people appreciate that. We made some decisions based on family.”
Another of their top priorities is maintaining high standards of hospitality, which means hard work, long hours and many sacrifices.
“The restaurant business is always challenging. When you walk into a restaurant, you can tell if it’s run by an owner or a teenage hostess.
“When I reflect on this now at 60 years old, I think that’s the key. You’re there and you put your heart and soul into it. If you run your own business, you have to show up.”
After decades of dedication to the restaurant, Brendan began allowing himself time to enjoy life outside of work. A few years ago, he and Claire made the decision not to let life pass them by while they were still young and could enjoy it.
He said: “We’ve been back to Ireland eight times since we retired. We’ve been to All-Ireland games, Munster finals, rugby games and other things I wanted to do. I’ve never done anything like this.”
O’Connor’s Restaurant and Bar will be handed over to new owners in 2022, who will continue the restaurant’s tradition and draw on the valuable advice of Brendan and Claire’s lifetime experience.
Brendan said they were looking forward to seeing what young Irish people were doing in the hospitality industry as they enjoyed another side of the American dream.
He said: “We (Irish) have a lot to offer America. We should be very proud of Irish Americans.”
For the latest local news and features on Irish America, visit our homepage here.
[ad_2]
Source link