Reeferfront Times

A lot of stories have been told at this bar over the years. | ANDY PAULISSEN

John Parker took over O’Connell’s when his legendary father Jack passed away last June. | ANDY PAULISSEN

up his sleeve — a much-needed POS system, an old-school City Museum-style installation of an antique iron archway and a sculpture meant to honor founder Bob Cassilly, to name a few — but, aside from a deep clean when he reopened the doors last August following his dad’s passing, he insists his strategy is to stay out of the way of O’Connell’s success.

“If you work here you’ve seen a lot of change, but if you’re a customer, nothing’s changed,” John Parker says. “Everything is the same, the moose is still there; nothing has changed. That is the main concern I hear from everyone. They always say, ‘Oh, I’m so glad you are open again,’ and I know before they say anything else to tell them not to worry because I’m not going to change a thing.”

Parker is happy with his role as steward of O’Connell’s, and has spent the past year navigating not only the grief of his dad’s passing but also the challenges the pandemic has thrust upon his industry. Insistent on weighing public health and safety above all other concerns, he’s been fierce in his commitment to keeping O’Connell’s a safe place for his guests, and feels that his policies are in line with the bar’s only rule, which his dad established many years ago: You must behave in a civilized manner and be courteous of your fellow patrons. He admits it hasn’t been easy, but he is committed to keeping O’Connell’s going for the long haul. What makes it easier is knowing that he is not alone in his quest, but that he is aided by the memory of his dad, which still animates the place, as well as the employees and guests who have made it what it is.

“O’Connell’s Pub is made by the people who come here, and you can’t buy that or make that artificially, arker says. hat’s who really owns the place. It’s intangible, and you can’t own that vibe. It’s what makes this a sacred house — one that is sacred to me not just because we are the best bar or have the best burger in town, but because it’s the house that Jack built. t’s the reflection of him, and I am going to do what I can to honor that for him.” n