At first glance, one might think that OHara's Fish House at 39th and Chestnut is like any other campus bar. In reality it is a University City paradox. It is located at a prime location: in close proximity to other popular student bars, yet it does not have the same kind of draw for students as its competitors. In fact, it has no students at all. We asked Bernard Stansbury, an OHara's manager, to find out what makes this place different, and why Penn kids just don't go there.
How long have you been working here at OHara's?
17 years.
And has the place changed in that time?
Yeah. It's changed a lot. It was more college-oriented when I started. Now it's more middle-class, 40/50 year olds.
What constituted that change?
I really don't know. It just sort of happened.
How would you describe the atmosphere here?
Very jazzy, mellow type.
What's on the soundtrack for the bar?
We have live music on Friday's and Saturday's. Wednesday is Karaoke Night.
How wild does that get?
It's funny. It's really funny.
Any good stories?
During the holidays at Christmas we have a customer Christmas party and an employee Christmas party. They really get wild. I mean people standing on top of the bar, they just get out of control.
Do the clothes ever come off?
Oh yeah. This one lady took off her thong in the ladies room, urinated in the sink, hung them up on a picture, and left them there in the bathroom.
And that was during a Christmas party?
No that was just at our regular Friday Happy Hour. Our Friday Happy Hour... everyone gets here at like 3:30 just to get a seat. And they stay all night, 'till like 1 or 1:30 in the morning, the same people. So by that time they are falling around. It's just...
What do you think draws people here?
The big drinks. Our martinis, you get like two-and-a-half martinis, so we don't really even have to run drink specials. Word just gets around.
Are the customers all locals?
People come from all over the city. That's what I find out after they've been drinking so much, "Oh you have to go all the way back across the bridge? [After you drank that much?]" We get a lot of locals, but also some from Jersey and all that.
Have you had any strange happy hour confessionals from customers?
Our customers, I don't pay any attention to them. I'm just like, "Yeah, ok. Keep talkin', I hear ya."
What are the most popular jukebox songs?
There is this artist out, Kem, he has this new song that everyone plays. Janet Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Aaliyah, they are the most popular.
What's the biggest food draw for this place?
The crab legs. Monday night is all you can eat. Tuesday is all you can eat shrimp, but you get a half pound of crab legs with that too.
So are you a big seafood fan?
No, I don't eat seafood at all. I'm allergic.
What do you think is OHara's roll in the campus area?
It's hard to say. The clientele from day to night changes. Daytime we have dollar beers at the bar and all the construction workers come.
So you have a pretty diverse crowd here throughout the day?
Yeah.
But no college students?
Not really, no college students.
Would you like to see more students come in?
Actually, yeah. But we don't advertise with them anymore. We used to have ads in student newspapers and that, but not anymore.
What would you say to get more students to come to OHara's?
It's hard to say. Cavanaugh's has quarter drink night and that. Here we just have our regular clientele. Once in a while you get some college kids in here and they have a good time.
So are there no words of encouragement for students?
Not really, no. I see things happen inside Cavanaugh's, I don't want to deal with that.
If you could open a dream bar, what would it be like?
It would be more of a sports bar. A mixed crowd, sports fans, middle class. Like that.
What aspects of OHara's would you take to your dream bar?
Actually, not much. I would change it all.
