Mooney’s Pub & Grill will open at the former site of Hollywood Corners on Aug. 15 after construction on the Toby Keith Expressway forced Mooney’s out of its location.
In a Facebook post July 2, Mooney’s owners wrote Oklahoma Turnpike Authority’s planned to begin core drilling in the pub’s parking lot on July 6 and gave the business until July 19 to clear the building.
“We're committed to handling this chapter with the respect it deserves,” Mooney’s Pub & Grill’s statement reads.
In a statement on Facebook July 2, Hollywood Corners wrote both parties are focused on respecting the venue’s legacy during this management transition.
“We assure you this is not a sale of the property, but rather a change in operator and operations at Hollywood to ensure its longevity without it becoming something far dissimilar to what it was envisioned to be,” Hollywood Corners’ statement reads.
Hollywood Corners’ ownership wrote that the arrangement with Mooney’s came from a mutual connection at a point when Mooney’s needed a new home, and Hollywood Corners saw a chance to keep the physical property in service.
The letter also traced Hollywood Corners’ history to before it became a restaurant or live-music stop, noting memories of Toby Keith riding his bike to the property to buy fishing worms and candy. Keith later bought the property himself, according to the letter, restoring it after learning it was at risk of closing.
Hollywood Corners ownership wrote that the venue has operated at a financial loss for years, which they said was a cost worth carrying to preserve something historic.
“One thing we knew from the beginning: selling the property or watching Hollywood Corners lose its identity was never an option,” the letter reads.
OU Daily reached out to Mooney’s management multiple times, but did not hear back by the time of publication. Hollywood Corners told the Daily during a phone call July 8 that Mooney’s would not be speaking with the media.
Julie and Rick Sondag, who perform locally in the band The Mystery Dates, have played at Hollywood Corners regularly for about eight years.
The Sondags said they were caught off guard by news of both Mooney’s move and the coming change at Hollywood Corners, and they didn’t think the two venues were in direct competition, noting the two spots were not very close to each other and generally drew different crowds.
The Sondags described the venue as a rare “destination place” for Norman, with a multigenerational crowd that set it apart from other bars in town.
“I just like the attitude of the crowd, …” Rick Sondag said. “We’ve had OU students, bikers, blue collar people, white collar people, teacher friends, old people, young people. It’s a real eclectic crowd. That’s probably what I like the best about it.”
Julie Sondag described a typical night as having a “festival feel,” saying regulars would settle in as if they were camping out rather than passing through.
Rick Sondag recalled one night when a group of international OU students, from South Asia, knew every word to the American songs the band played. He said he spoke with them afterward in Urdu, and the students were left moved by the exchange.
“I wouldn’t have this experience in other places around town,” Rick Sondag said.
Rick Sondag credited Keith’s own background as a musician for how the venue treated performers, including sharing extra tips and profits on good nights and making musicians feel wanted rather than simply hired for a shift.
In its own July 12 announcement, Mooney's described its plan as combining "two iconic Oklahoma gathering places" into something that honors the history and community tied to each, saying the goal was not to erase Hollywood Corners' past but to build on it. The business said it was working with Keith's family to protect the venue's character, and pledged to share more in the coming weeks about menu changes, live music, employment opportunities and family hours.
The Sondags said they have not heard whether their own September booking will hold under new management.
This story was edited by Reagan Rozzi. Kennedy Johnson and Tori Pham copy edited this story.
