The O’Learys love story began in Nantucket, outside Boston. Here, O’Learys founder, Jonas Reinholdsson, fell in love with the unique blend of people, food, drink and sport which could be found in many restaurants there. The big difference from Sweden at this time was just this blend – a blend which created an atmosphere so strong that you could nearly touch it.

One Summer’s day, a certain Anne O’Leary wandered into the restaurant where the young Swede was working. They hit it off and immediately after Jonas returned to Sweden, Anne followed on. On the 16th November 1988, they opened the first O’Learys restaurant in Gothenburg. Sweden’s first genuine American sports bar and it was an immediate success.