From Our Family To Yours
The original Bros. Houligan was located at 15th and Atlanta in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Everything started on November 13, 1987—which coincidentally was a Friday—when the 15th Street location was opened by two of the three McMurchy brothers. Eventually, all three brothers (Pat, Mike, and Tim) worked at the restaurant.
When they were young, their mother, Millie, would have told you that the boys were "little Houligans." So, the new restaurant was named The Bros. Houligan.
In truth, the 15th Street location started as more of a bar than a restaurant. With pool tables, pinball machines, and a jukebox adorning the space, the neighborhood at the time reflected that same rough-around-the-edges aesthetic.
However, as fate would have it, the brothers had worked as chefs at many higher-end restaurants, most recently at the legendary Tulsa fine dining restaurant, The Louisiane.
They decided to take their culinary know-how and apply it in the small kitchen of their newly founded bar.
In short order, the excellent food—paired with the casual atmosphere—led to the pool tables and pinball machines being removed, making way for a true dining room.
By the early 2000’s the Bros. Houligan’s reputation for great food and an easy-going style had created lines out the door and it was time for a second location. A remodeled convenience store at 61st & Mingo served as that second location for many years. That is until an opportunity to
move to a new spot with great potential lead to what was referred as “South” being relocated at 48th & Yale where it still is today.
The second location dwarfed the original in both kitchen and dining room size. This led to a larger menu and the capacity to serve more customers; however, this expanded menu was hard to execute in the humble bar kitchen at the 15th Street location.
In response, Houligan’s Corner was born. The idea was to let the original location get back to its roots and separate it from its larger sibling.
It succeeded, but Cherry Street had evolved over thirty-plus years; the once-humble spot that was affordable for the brothers at the start was now valuable Cherry Street real estate. Eventually, an offer was made that simply couldn’t be refused. With a heavy heart, the 15th Street location was closed and the building sold.
Today, Houligan’s Corner is reborn in Broken Arrow with the same great food and philosophy that made the original 15th Street store so special to so many people.
Houligan’s Corner is not an imitation; it’s the original. Even the sign outside is the same one that adorned 15th Street, and many of the people who helped make it so special for decades are still involved. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy all your Houligan’s favorites at our newest home.
