O'Charley's Closed In August, Now You Won't Recognize It

JOLIET, IL — Songs by the Dropkick Murphys and The Clancy Brothers will never play again inside Joliet's O'Charleys Irish Pub. There's no more pints of Guinness stout being poured behind the bar. O'Charley's was party central for Joliet area residents on St. Patrick's Day, but not anymore.

Aug. 17 marked the final night of business at O'Charleys. O'Charley's Irish Pub was at the corner of North Center and Oneida streets since 1988, and 40 years in Joliet overall.

Now, three weeks after it closed, the building looks nothing like O'Charleys. The Irish-green paint is all gone. The property owner painted the entire two-story building blue.

The white paint that read "O'CHARLEYS" in giant bold letters is gone, too.

If you were passing through Joliet for the first time this week, you would never know that 117 North Center St. had been the local treasure known as O'Charleys.

The Charley family had leased the property.

It remains unclear what the current building owner plans to do with the former Irish pub. About the only thing that's certain is this: there are no plans for another O'Charleys.

A proud and important community treasure in Joliet is gone. St. Patrick's Day food, fun and festivities around Joliet will never be the same.

Joliet Patch related coverage: O'Charley's Irish Pub Announces It's Closing