On March 19, 2026, the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce welcomed over 250 guests to their March Breakfast Club at the AC Marriott on Front Street in Worcester. Beth Helenius, Chief Greeter for the event, welcomed the crowd with the following opening remarks:

“It is fantastic to see you all today and I know many but certainly not all of you. Perhaps it would be helpful to tell you a short story before we get started, to learn a wee little bit about me.

People often think Helenius is Greek, but it is Finnish and part of my husband Mike’s lineage. I’m from the Atchue clan, yes, Uncle Charlie has the optical shop on Grafton St., and Uncle Earl has the insurance agency on Park Ave. My dad, Ken, and Uncle Tim ran Atchue Door and Window on Shrewsbury Street. We have deep roots in Worcester, but my grandparents were first generation from Ireland – the Burkes, the Murphys,  and the Donoghues.

On with the story.

Let me take you back to 1990. I had a college assignment to complete and needed a businessperson’s perspective. Luckily, my neighbor was Brendan O’Connor. He and his wife Claire recently opened a place, O’Connor’s Restaurant & Bar. Brendan was willing to help me out. My goal was to learn about what brought him here and his business plan.

Brendan and I sat down in his small restaurant, and he told me about how he and Claire immigrated to America from Ireland. They chose this location to open their restaurant and nearby to raise their family with sons Rory and Eamon. He described in such precise detail their plans to create a strong connection to the community, to expand over the years and exactly how that would happen. He knew the order of the expansion and spoke with enthusiasm and conviction with that well-known Irish brogue. The business was dreamt up in 1979 and opened in 1989. You may fondly remember that this was printed on their napkins along with Irish proverbs.

The next year he hired me as a waitress, no experience. Let me tell you this was one of the toughest jobs I’ve ever had! Hustle was the expectation, highest level of service was required, strong sales acumen and you needed to have thick skin because Brendan was always watching. He was also right beside you clearing a table, serving a meal and personally welcoming the guests.

I’ve worked St. Patrick’s Day and celebrated St. Patrick’s Day at O’Connor’s – it is good to have both perspectives. Many of the skills I learned were transferable to my role at Fallon Community Health Plan. This is where I would spend the next few decades of my career and frequently found my way to O’Connor’s. During these years I also worked very closely with the Chamber of Commerce.

O’Connor’s holds so many fond memories for me and my family, including hosting the rehearsal dinner for our wedding, a frequent gathering place for friends and family, a meeting place after work and at holidays, showers, political fundraisers, both of my grandparents’ celebration of life gatherings, my daughter Emily was a waitress my son Billy a busboy and bar back. Brendan was one of his character references for his admission to West Point. They joked that his service at O’Connor’s laid the foundation for his career in the Army where he now serves as a Captain. And there are countless other happy times hosted by Himself and Herself.

Although Brendan and Claire sold their business in 2022, and we learned of the decision to close O’Connor’s this past week, it will be forever in my heart filled with the echo of their Irish brogue, traditional Irish songs, their commitment to this community, their warm personal welcome, their hard work and tireless effort to produce an exceptional product.

Which is a perfect bridge to our program today….”

-Beth Helenius, Vice President of Commercial Sales, Mass General Brigham Health Plan, March 19, 2026

 

Anecdotally, Brendan O’Connor served as the Chief Greeter for the March Breakfast Club for many many years.

Stories like this are not just personal, they reflect the very foundation of Worcester’s business community. Entrepreneurs like Brendan O’Connor and Claire O’Connor didn’t just open a restaurant, they created jobs, developed talent, supported local suppliers, and built a gathering place that fueled both economic activity and community connection in Worcester.

The impact of businesses like O’Connor’s Restaurant & Bar extends far beyond their walls, they shape workforce skills, attract visitors, and strengthen the local economy, proving that small businesses are truly the backbone of the city’s growth and vitality.