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Just when Orono’s night life seems doomed to remain static, along comes something new and, in this case, improved.
The Bear Brew Pub, a familiar fixture of the University scene, is going through an overhaul to expand its services. Over 600 people flocked to the restaurant on Sept. 16 to experience the opening of a new pool lounge and partake in the drink specials that accompanied it. The event marked the first in a series of changes that owner and Bangor native Matt Haskell hopes will give the area more variety.
“I’m trying to bring a little bit of the big city up here. I don’t really think that Maine has anything in the state that’s like what I’m about to create,” Haskell said.
What he hopes to create is a European-style lounge that will coexist with the pub’s relaxed atmosphere. In keeping with these plans, the first floor will remain a place for casual dining and drinks while the second floor will be expanded to incorporate a dance area overlooked by lounge seating, and will also include much-needed bathrooms. The third floor, with its pool tables and TV, will provide patrons with a more sports-oriented element.
At 26-years old and recently out of college himself, Haskell understands that students need a range of night life activities to stay satisfied.
“College kids don’t always want to sit in a quiet brew pub. They want to dance and listen to live music,” he said.
Haskell plans to host guest DJs and hip-hop artists from larger cities, but emphasizes that the second floor will be more than a dance club. It will also be used to host comedians, jazz dinners, open microphone nights and trivia nights where teams can compete for money. Patrons will be able to reserve booths in the dance lounge for special occasions.
Haskell said he thinks this diversity will set the Bear Brew apart from other businesses in the area. Also, there will not be a cover charge at the door, only at the dance lounge entrance.
“I’m not going to rob people blind for a door charge. I’m going to run the same old specials. Thursday night’s going to be the same cheap drinks,” he said.
Haskell has recently painted the building’s exterior and hopes to finalize all renovations by mid-December. If his plans are not ready before winter break , he will wait until the University is back in session to hold a grand opening, where patrons can expect promotions like ten-cent shots, according to Haskell.
“It’s sort of my way to give back to the customers. They make me lots of money, so I can in turn give back,” he said.
Helping with the restaurant is Haskell’s lifelong friend, Phil Savage, who spent the last six years running a club in Boston. Savage returned to Bangor to be nearer to family, and is impressed with the way Haskell has diversified the Bear Brew crowd. He understands that broad appeal on of the aspects that makes the Bear Brew distinctive.
“One of the big things I think that Matt and myself can’t stress enough is how we don’t want to change any of the good things we have going on here, we just want to expand,” Savage said.
