Portsmouth Feed Co. closed in Market Square. What will open in former bank space next?
PORTSMOUTH — A honky-tonk restaurant in the heart of the city has been closed for weeks, leading to speculation about the future of the business.
Portsmouth Feed Company & Provisions, opened by Henry Pariseau in June 2021, has been locked for an extended period, the lights turned low and the restaurant’s stools stacked atop tables. The roughly 220-seat restaurant, which served up barbecue plates piled high with St. Louis pork ribs, Texas-style brisket, pulled pork, chicken, sausage or beef rib, is located inside the former New Hampshire Bank in Market Square, built in 1803.
Realtor Bob Marchewka of Brick & Barn Group | Compass real estate in Portsmouth represents the owners of the historic downtown property positioned across from the North Church.
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Marchewka, a member of the city’s Economic Development Commission, confirmed the restaurant has been closed recently.
“It’ll be back on the market for lease sometime soon,” he said.
The building, according to city property records and state business filings, is owned by Utah-based limited liability company LBJ Properties LLC, the principals of which are Ronald Bushnell and Larry Serandos. Neither responded to repeated requests for comment.
According to the real estate agent, Pariseau still holds a lease with the building’s owners.
“It’s a great location. We expect that there would be a lot of interest in it,” Marchewka added.
Pariseau, who did not return a request for comment for this story, spoke about the barbecue joint and bar nearly two years ago in an interview with the Portsmouth Herald, as Portsmouth Feed Co. was preparing to open in the space once called home by Ri Ra Irish Pub.
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“That’s the miracle of being in this location is that it is the draw,” he said of the bank building. “We’re kind of the sideshow. The building brings everyone to Market Square, and then we’re just hoping they stay and we’ll do our thing. Good time, live music, good food, I think we’ll be fine.”
The old New Hampshire Bank building, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was sold to LBJ Properties LLC in July 2000 for $600,000, city property records show. Portsmouth’s last assessment of the property has it appraised at a little more than $2.5 million.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: What's next for Portsmouth site that housed Portsmouth Feed Co., RiRa?
