Major restaurateurs taking over beloved bars is officially a thing. After Brendan Sodikoff's reboot of the California Clipper, now comes word that Footman Hospitality (Bangers & Lace, The Betty) has purchased the longtime neighborhood Bucktown Pub on Cortland Street. And like Sodikoff, Footman doesn't plan to alter it much.
Footman partner Jason Freiman distilled the group's plans for the pub into a statement. "Essentially we plan to deepen the concept—we want to take all of the things that make it great and make them better," he says. "We love the history of Bucktown Pub."
The pub, a longtime enclave for fans of cheap beer, popcorn, biker nights and trivia, also underwent an ownership change less than 14 years ago that left many regulars up in arms. Will they embrace the newest owners?
· Bucktown Pub [Official Site]
· All Footman Hospitality Coverage [-ECHI-]
· Venerable Bucktown Pub Sold, Regulars Hope New Owners Keep Vibe Intact [DNAinfo]