The other day I was going to Michael’s Craft store in the old Cloverleaf Mall Plaza (I guess it’s still called Cloverleaf but it was much better as a mall, than the plaza it is now) and I noticed Owen O’Leary’s has closed(!)
I have such mixed feelings about this place.  I worked here when I was a student at Framingham State College and was part of the original staff when they opened in 1996.  It’s weird to see it closed.
I have so many memories of that place, it was an absolute zoo on the weekends.   It was a challenge just trying to get drinks/food to the tables because the bar was so packed.  I remember waiting on nice regulars and the quirky Guitar Center guys.  The group of jerks from Mathworks who would come in for their Friday after-work TGIF! drinks.  The “rough and tumble” guys that dwelled down in the pool room all night.  One time this guy who looked like Greg Allman just walked in, went right to the pool room, found this guy who was leaning over the table preparing to shoot, punched him and walked out.
Dreading to fulfill a promise of picking up a shift for “Roast Night”, an all inclusive meal for $6.99, and people still demanding to upgrade items for the same price (like a hot fudge brownie sundae instead of the scoop of ice cream the meal comes with).
The manager throwing plates, supplies or anything in grabbing distance if he was mad and staff getting the hell out of the kitchen when that happened.
The obnoxious cook who would make offensive jokes and thought he was God’s gift to women.  The dishwashers who barely spoke English and called him “mono blanco”, and learning that means “white monkey” (and then bonding with the dishwashers).
Last call being at 12:30am and not getting done with sidework until almost 2am, walking to my old Honda Prelude exhausted, with achy knees and then listening to Norm Nathan on WBZ while driving home.

That was some of the toughest waitressing I’ve ever done.  I’d say it would tie with working the graveyard shift at the old Athenian Restaurant in Framingham.  I’m exhausted just thinking about it! 
Anyway, goodbye Owen’s.