Clinton's The Old Timer Restaurant Is Closing

A staple of the Clinton restaurant world is closing for good, according to Boston Restaurant Talk. The Old Timer Restaurant has been in the Irish pub business west of Boston for 87 years and will say its final farewell in the coming weeks. The restaurant will shut down on January 30, while the pub will stay open through Super Bowl Sunday on February 7.

Owner Brian McNally told the Worcester Telegram that the closure was "bittersweet." His parents, John and Helen McNally, started the restaurant at 155 Church St. in 1929, and in the 1930s, The Old Timer played host to people like Sammy Davis, Jr. with the Will Mastin Trio, singer Jim Brown, and a number of other entertainment acts, along with noted politicians, sports figures, and celebrities over the years.

A message from the McNally family posted on Facebook read:

After 87 years and careful thought, we have decided it that it is time for us to move on and find our pot of gold under a new rainbow. This decision was not an easy one for us but we feel it is the best interest for our family. We have been blessed to take part in so many special occasions and also to be a part of the wonderful community of Clinton, a truly special town. There have been many people involved in our great restaurant. We would like to thank our wonderful staff, vendors, and customers that have given us support over the years.

The restaurant was known to serve classic pub fare with an Irish flare — triple-decker sandwiches and burgers, salads, soups, and entrees — in addition to serving as a hub of the Clinton community.

The Old Timer is for sale, and McNally told the Telegram he hoped "the right person" would come in and get things moving in time for the restaurant's busiest day of the year: St. Patrick's Day.