Bull Feeney’s, an Irish bar and restaurant that markets itself as “Portland’s pub,” recently reopened after a pandemic-driven shutdown, now with a renegotiated lease.
The establishment, located at 375 Fore St. in the Old Port, closed on March 16, 2020, at the start of the pandemic and reopened with limited hours for three weeks that summer.
“It did not go well and we lost all but four employees, forcing closure until we could find financing and extend our lease, which ended in August 2021,” owner Doug Fuss told Mainebiz.
The pub, which serves burgers and other hearty fare along with Guinness and Maine-brewed craft beers, reopened this month after securing financing and extending the lease, followed by two major repairs: A broken connection between the building and a city sewer, and a collapsed stormwater catch basin behind the building.
“The latter caused the dining room to flood with each storm for about a year, causing extensive damage to stairs, basement subfloor and dining room floors,” Fuss explained.
Because the business sat idle for so long, and the equipment had deteriorated through the years, Bull Feeney’s also had to replace the draught beer system, point of sale system, phone system, refrigeration equipment and some kitchen equipment, he noted.
“We re-grouted kitchen floors, painted and patched and cleaned all HVAC ductwork,” he added. “We also renovated the office in preparation for hiring a new management team.”
Bull Feeney’s, which had 31 employees when it closed in March 2020 and only 11 employees for the three weeks it was open in summer 2020, from the last week in July through the first week in August of that year.
Bull Feeney’s currently employs 24 people.
Asked if it’s a relief to be open and in business again, Fuss said, “Yes, definitely, and exhilarating, but now the real work begins.”
