Patrons Take Home Pieces After Popular Norman Pub Closes

Jacqueline Sit, News 9

NORMAN, Oklahoma -- Friday night was the last call at O'Connell's, an Irish pub and grille in Norman that served thousands of football fans and patrons for four decades. Although the doors are closed for good, fans got a chance to bring as piece of the place home.

Saturday was an emotional day for patrons of O'Connell's because everything in the popular pub from the moose head to OU memorabilia had to go. An auction took place and customers lined up hoping to take a memory home.

"All the people that flocked in, the stories, the memories, the experiences that people has had, it's just phenomenal how much it means to different people," said owner Jeff Stewart.

Stewart said the reality of the closing hasn't really hit him yet.

"I think when I drive by in the morning, there is no signage, there is no awning, probably even no doors, I think that's when it'll really sink in and hopefully I'll stay busy enough with the other store that it won't bother me…haha," said O'Connell's owner.

The youngest bidder at the auction was a four-year-old. After seeing the story about the pub closing Friday on News 9, she told her dad she had to have the moose head or antlers.

"Her grandpa hunts a lot and has a bear on the wall so she saw it and she said ‘I go. I go.' And so we came down here to see it," said Eric Hayes. "She'll definitely have a story to tell everyone on how she got the elk antlers or a moose on the wall.

Eric Hayes wanted to make his little girl feel special and hoped he didn't have to break the bank for the life size souvenir.

"Probably not more than $600, hopefully," said Hayes. "Hopefully we go home with something, something that makes her happy."

Hayes said while they didn't get the moose head, he won the antlers for $715 dollars. And seeing his daughter happy was worth every cent.

Customers can still enjoy beers and OU games at the new O'Connell's on Campus Corner.

More: Last Call At Popular Pub In Norman