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Porters Bar and Grill closes after 24 years in business: ‘It was a whirlwind end’
The owner said he closed the business because running a restaurant-bar post-COVID had become a "bigger headache."
After 24 years in business, which included a dozen championships, daily regulars, and pandemic closures, Porters Bar and Grill closed permanently in late June.
Its owner since day one, Scott “Scooter” Nogueira, said the decision to close didn’t come easy. But an end to an extended five-year lease, followed by a pandemic that shuttered the bar and rising costs of food and labor during that lease period, cemented the fact that it was time for last call.
“I wouldn’t say I exited because business was horrible after COVID. Business was different after COVID,” Nogueira said. “It really cemented the idea that probably this is a bigger headache than I wanted to deal with as a 60-year-old. So I put the business up for sale.”
Over the last few weeks after Porters’ final day of service, Nogueira has spent more time focusing on the good days. Located near TD Garden in the West End, it was a beloved spot for Boston sports fans to grab a New England craft beer and bar bites during a Celtics or Bruins game day.
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When the teams were in season, it was busy, just as much as other West End area businesses swell with jersey-donning diners. And when they were winning, business was great.
Porters was lucky enough to see one last Boston championship win this year, and a parade the week it closed.
“I barely had any time to invite any friends, family, regulars, and past staff because we were busy operating as much as we could at full speed,” Nogueira said. “It was a whirlwind end.”
He shared memories of other championships — 13 in total that Porters staff worked through — like when the Patriots won their first Super Bowl during the 2001 season. Following the win, Nogueira walked into Porters to find the music blaring, guests dancing on furniture, and beer bottles filling nearly every inch of bar and table space.
Nogueira said owning the bar also helped in developing relationships. Not only did he have solid regulars — that he said he now worries about when and where they’ll find their next beer spot — but he had staff that stayed on for years, some as long as 14 years.
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He watched spouses meet each other at Porters, guests held weddings and christenings there, and when restaurants and bars nearby closed over the years, Nogueira tried to employ who he could at Porters.
Then there were the harsh realities of owning a restaurant, like raising prices on burgers amid inflation, the loss of a lunch crowd, post-COVID staffing issues, and maintenance problems like flooding and even bathroom fires.
“Porters was an interesting and special place,” Nogueira said. “The fact that I had people work for me for so long was an indication of what type of place it was. One regular had been there for 24 years. I’m going to miss the people. I’m not going to miss the bathroom on fire.”
He tried to sell the place for more than a year — hoping to find someone willing to keep it as Porters, and as a place for the neighborhood — but unfortunately deals fell through. It isn’t immediately clear what’s next for the space.
Tell us: Do you have a special memory of Porters Bar and Grill? What were some of your favorite dishes or drinks? Let us know what you’ll miss about the restaurant. Share with us in the survey below or e-mail us at [email protected], and your response may appear in an upcoming Boston.com article.
What will you miss about Porters Bar and Grill in the West End?
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