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All new Granary Brew Pub & Restaurant to open on June 1

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The Granary Brew Pub & Restaurant
The Granary Brew Pub & Restaurant will re-open on June 1 after major renovations to the building have been completed.

FARMINGTON – The resurrection of a popular downtown restaurant is underway by a former owner.

The Granary Brew Pub & Restaurant, which closed in March 2011, will re-open on June 1. Extensive renovations to the former restaurant have been going at a fevered pace in order to open on time.

Rick Mealey and Tom and Rocell Marcellino opened the Granary on Front Street in 1999. After years of running the restaurant, Richard and Martha Griswold bought it in 2006. Richard Griswold closed it in March 2011. At the time Griswold said it was due to “a tremendous drop in sales.”

Little more than one year ago,  Kelly Dexter with his son Matthew Dexter purchased the three-story building at 47 Pleasant Street. Matthew Dexter, who operates Dexter Plumbing and Heating business, became the sole owner of the building in August 2015 and continued the renovations work to the building’s upstairs apartments and street-level salon. The idea of re-opening the restaurant was one Mealey thought of and Dexter enthusiastically embraced.

“Mill Street wasn’t performing terribly well so we pulled the plug,” Mealey said. The restaurant was owned by Mary Howes in a portion of the former Otis Mill and closed in January. It was then Mealey asked Dexter about possibly re-opening a restaurant in the former Granary space.

“He said, ‘let’s do it,'” Mealey said. Dexter has completed the renovation the building’s five apartments and a hair salon upstairs. The five apartments have been rented and the Do Or Dye, new salon, spa, and piercing studio opened its doors on Feb. 1. Dexter then turned his full attention to the former restaurant in the downstairs area. That section includes a 1,500 square foot dining room with a large brick fireplace, a bar area and dining room and large kitchen.

“Matt has completely gutted it down to the studs,” Mealey said of the restaurant. Major water damage occurred when sprinklers activated after the restaurant was closed. “There was a major concern for the state of the building. Tough times took its toll,” he said.

The renovations have meant replacing everything with new plumbing and air systems, walls, ceilings and flooring. The kitchen will have all new equipment. Many of the new replacements are upgrades upon the former restaurant’s building materials and equipment.

“It’s a new restaurant with new everything,” Mealey said. The big wooden bar was completely taken apart and rebuilt in the same place.  A new stage with lighting for musicians and open mic nights are to be installed. The layout of the restaurant will remain pretty much the same, with two dining rooms, bar, kitchen.

Twenty new jobs will be created with 15 to 18 of those offering full-time employment. The restaurant will be open every day from probably 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., but Mealey said he’ll see how it goes and may adjust the times later. He intends to serve much the same meals as the former Granary did, such as burgers, sandwiches, surf ‘n turf.

Mealey noted the opening date of June 1 is a must since a “huge open mic night,”  has been booked for June 7. That event will feature performers coming in from all over the country who have all once played at the Granary.

“It’s a heck of a project but it will be worth it in the end,” Mealey said.

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27 Comments

  1. Looking forward to this! The most recent incarnation failed due to a decline in both food and service quality, combined with rising prices. Hoping this time the original owner can get the right formula back.

  2. I’m so excited that The Granary is reopening. The community enjoyed having this popular place in the past. It feels like a Cheers Bar where everyone knows your name. Good Luck, I know I will be visiting often.

  3. Awesome! Loved the Granary. Loved the Mill Pub. Looking forward to having a meal at this newest incarnation.

    ~K~

  4. Farmington is saturated with eateries that offer ‘freezer to fryolator’ fare. It will be refreshing to have a good steak and lobster, etc. without having to leave town. Rick, we wish you the best and you will do well for sure. Just keep in mind what made the original Granary(and Fiddleheads) so awesome and the sky’s the limit!

  5. Glad to hear of it opening again. Hoping the food will be good with good prices…can’t wait for it to open!!!
    It will be a nice choice to go to other than fast food….
    Good luck!!!! And we will be there!

  6. so happy the Granary is re-opening, look forward to visiting soon, will be nice to get seafood locally, without going to Augusta.. Best of Luck

  7. I can’t wait! Hope they have the beer battered onion rings, sweet potato fries and grilled veggie quesadillas.

  8. I had the same stool at the bar wverutime I went back in the day.Maybe I can do it again

  9. Thank you everyone. The support and positive feedback has been overwhelmingly humbling. We’re very excited. Everyday we get closer. Matt, Richard, and their crew has been working tirelessly. We’ll be firing up the grills soon. Again, thank you :)

  10. Fantastic news. Really liked the Mealy-era Granary, Boiler Room and The Mill Street Tavern, too. Hope Rick’s in charge of the kitchen — dude can flat-out cook!

  11. It had an awesome chicken breast with red pepper jelly. I hope they still have it.Great place to go and eat and drink. Best of luck

  12. I’m really, really hoping that Panko Crab and Chicken is on the menu! I miss that dish so much! BEST OF LUCK! CAN’T WAIT TO TRY IT OUT!!!

  13. Very happy to see the reincarnation of the Granary and look forward to its food and ambiance.

  14. Congrats Rick on your latest cooking endeavor. Looking forward to some good eats. Would like to reserve a table for 6 on the 12th at 7 PM. ;-) Tim and Maggie

  15. best wishes. my family enjoyed your place for years. Wish I could teach the Bahamians how to cook our yankee food.

  16. Baked Scallops with wine and cheese sauce like Holley Farms used to make, and Lobster Pie like Malcolm Porter used to make would sure get me in the door! Fried Clams, Fried Shrimp, and Fried Scallops like Russ Robbins made at the Starlite Drive-In and the Log Cabin in Newport made would make ’em rich! Remember the lines at the Log Cabin?

  17. Do us non-garlic lovers a favor…serve SOMETHING that is garlic free. (Other than the beer…)

  18. I am happy for you Rick . I remember you had told me that you were going to opening back up . I hope you are going to have Lacey mussels on the menu. Love them !!!!!

    Plus we need something more upbeat in this town

  19. Can’t wait to have another option! We used to go to the Granary at least once a week :-)

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