O'Gara's Bar And Grill Marks 75 Years In Business

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A popular St. Paul restaurant is celebrating a milestone. O'Gara's Bar and Grill opened its location off Snelling Avenue 75 years ago.

The family run business is now in its third generation. Dan O'Gara's grandfather first opened the doors in 1941.

"I think we're known as an Irish pub, a neighborhood bar," O'Gara said.

Through the years, the bar and grill has undergone some big changes while honoring its Irish pub influences.

O'Gara has watched business quadruple in size with dining room additions and a dance club-like expansion. The growth comes from the understanding that businesses need to change in order to stay relevant.

"My dad always said it's a young man's business," O'Gara said.

Yet, despite the physical changes and growth to the business, the bar has held on to important pieces of its past. Hanging throughout the bar are several pictures of the "Peanuts" cartoon strip. Charles Schulz's father, Carl, owned a barbershop next to O'Gara's from the 1930s through the 1960s, and the family lived in an apartment above the restaurant.

"They actually lived upstairs for many years. He created 'Peanuts' in that apartment," O'Gara said.

The O'Gara's eventually purchased the barbershop building and expanded the restaurant, but several pieces of memorabilia hang in the place where the barbershop once stood. O'Gara said tourists from around the world will visit the restaurant because of its connection to Charles Schulz.

"Charles Schulz, there's few people known worldwide as much as he is and his cartoon and his legacy." O'Gara said.

It's part of the character that comes from 75 years in business and a reason why Dan sees O'Gara's as more than just an old Irish pub.

"I think it's a lot to do with the people and the community," O'Gara said.

O'Gara's will be celebrating its anniversary with food specials. Several menu items will fall back to 1941 prices beginning next Friday.