Popular Hangout Mitch O'Neill's Closes Its Doors

Many Syosset residents who headed toward the downtown on Memorial Day lucked out--they very well may have enjoyed the last pints poured at Mitch O'Neill's.

The Irish pub closed after Monday, as owner Mary Kennedy has sold the business. When contacted Wednesday she didn't give any details about the new owners or what direction they will take the restaurant in. She added that the bar would be closed for about a month and that when it reopens, there will be a lot of changes.

Kennedy has run Mitch O'Neill's, at 151 Jackson Ave., for 36 years. Although a recent Syosset Patch story noted many of the financial difficulties in the downtown area right now, Kennedy insisted that the pub was doing well.

"It's just 36 years," Kennedy said. "I'm done. Time to retire. Time to do something else."

Syosset Patch recently did a video feature showing the packed house at Mitch O'Neill's on St. Patrick's Day. While an Irish pub doing well on that day is not uncommon, Mitch O'Neill's managed to bring in crowds from Syosset and beyond on a regular basis. The pub's summer Friday happy hour with hamburgers and hot dogs was an area staple.