2008 Woodie Awards
O' Haras plans to expand
Aaron Swenson
Issue date: 4/23/07 Section: Intermission
- Page 1 of 2 next >
|
Being Irish did not matter, as patrons packed the establishment from early morning to closing.
Next year's festivities will be met with new challenges and expectations, as the main bar-restaurant floor will be significantly downsized.
Last April, O'Hara's owner Tim O'Hara decided to put part of his establishment up for sale.
Premier Real Estate Services President Noel Johnson signed a contract to buy part of the property to add his company's new building to the property as long as the city council approved of the sale.
On Monday, more than a year after being put on the market, the St. Cloud City Council voted 6-1 to approve the development plan to remodel the interior and exterior of O'Hara's and for the additional office building to be constructed.
Council Member Sonja Berg was the lone member to disapprove, because she said she felt the result of a new addition would add additional traffic problems to the area.
The interior changes will be made to a portion of the upstairs bar and restaurant.
"Part of the building will become office space, while the rest will remain a bar-restaurant. This resolution will turn 5,000 square feet of the upstairs from a bar-restaurant into an office space," City Planning Director Matt Glaesman said.
The upstairs area would be converted into two office spaces that will vary from 1,000 to 2,000 square feet per business.
The 12,000 square-foot basement will not lose any of its space, as it will remain a bar and pool/darts lounge.
Other additions to O'Hara's will include more outdoor patio space, and a new charcoal grill and chicken rotisserie will be added to the kitchen. O' Hara said the remodeling will be done in phases to keep his establishment open for the next couple of months.