After several years of speculation, well-known Norman hotspot, O’Connell’s Irish Pub & Grille is closing the doors to their original location at 120 E. Lindsey St.

The official closing date of Dec. 31 was decided last week by owner Jeff Stewart, who acquired the business in 1979.

Stewart’s decision followed a meeting of the OU Board of Regents, during which a more specific plan was solidified for the property O’Connell’s is located on.

“It’s making definite out of indefinite,” Stewart said.

The property, which has been home to the original O’Connell’s since 1968, was bought by the University of Oklahoma in 2007. This acquisition has left those involved in limbo, according to Stewart.

“We really expected this to happen last year in 2009, and it didn’t happen,” Stewart said. “It’s happening in 2010. So now we’ve got to plan for it and get all of the details worked out.”

For now, this means notifying people, planning for events leading up to their last day, and focusing attention on their Campus Corner location, 769 Asp Ave.

As for the land along Lindsey Street, dates are still not finalized for demolition of the existing structures and construction of the new buildings, Chris Shilling, university spokesman, said.

Shilling said things are indeed moving forward and expects the land to be used for parking facilities, as well as a 380-bed living facility for student athletes and non-athletes.

“They’re [OU] still trying to identify the best project to put where,” said Shilling.

Shilling said that the relationship between OU and O’Connell’s is good and that the developments come at a time of growth for both.

“I think O’Connell’s and the University of Oklahoma have been experiencing growing pains over the years,” Shilling said.

One person who said she is saddened by the move is Sarah Palmer, O’Connell’s long-time manager.

“I love this place, it’s got a lot of history. I think it’ll be a big transition,” said Palmer.

She has worked at the original location for six years and said that it is their customers who have kept her there so long.

She plans to move over to the Campus Corner location and said she hopes that the regulars will migrate with her.

“It’ll be tough but we can get through it,” Palmer said.

She said she also hopes they will be able to carry on game day and other special events in the parking lot they have on Campus Corner. Though, Palmer acknowledges fears with the parking situation.

“I think that’s the only issue that I see for game day, but it’s like that anywhere around campus, parking is always an issue,” she said.

Stewart too, recognizes that some of the regular customers may be inconvenienced by the change.

“I’m sure we’ll gain some different regulars and we’ll lose some, I hate to lose any of them, nobody wants to lose a customer,” said Stewart.

Negative effects aside, Stewart is already planning for the future.

Changes will now be happening with the Campus Corner location. One change being that the menu will become exactly the same as at the original O’Connell’s.

But other changes too, are in the works, said Stewart.

“There’s some other things that we had intended to do when that one opened that we haven’t been able to follow through with. Now we’ll be able to give it more attention and we’ll be able to do that,” he said.