The Busti Tap House and its owners, Dave and Maryann Attard, will hold a grand opening event all day Friday from noon-11 p.m. to celebrate their new status as bar and restaurant owners and to invite the community to visit its newest local establishment.

The Attards officially became owners of the building around Thanksgiving of 2015 and, according to Dave, the couple got right to work with renovations the same day they got the keys.

“We came in with hammers swinging,” Dave Attard said. “There were four layers of walls, four layers of ceiling and wiring disasters everywhere. So we gutted everything and replaced the walls and the bar with wood from a 100-year-old barn that used to be out on Big Tree Road. Coincidentally, that barn was where I had my first job when we moved to the area in 1986. It was falling down and we asked the owner if we could buy it from her.”

“She agreed, we got the barn and knocked it down and salvaged some of the wood,” Dave Attard continued.

In addition to repurposing wood from an area barn, the establishment has also incorporated other local elements to give it an added hometown flavor. A prime example is the restaurant’s far wall, which is dedicated to the volunteers of the local Busti Fire Department and includes an old fireman’s uniform, helmet and other department memorabilia. Additionally, the bar also serves a drink called the “BFD,” from which $1 of each drink sold is given to the department.

Also unique to the establishment is a chalkboard-styled wall with names and messages painted on it, referred to by Dave as the “memory wall,” and a free pool table.

“We wanted to be a different kind of place from anywhere else around, and that’s just a small example,” Dave said. “Where else can you go to play pool for free?”

For its grand opening celebration the restaurant will offer various specials and gift card giveaways, and the outside deck will be open. The main food special will be the Opening Day Grand Slam Burger, which is a cheddar-bacon burger with pulled pork, caramelized onions and barbecue sauce. For live entertainment impersonator Mike Volpe will perform as Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra from 8-11 p.m.

The Busti Tap House is located along Busti-Sugar Grove Road. It is open from 3:30-9 p.m. Monday; 3:30-10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; noon-11 p.m. Saturday; noon-midnight Saturday; and noon-9 p.m. Sunday.

For more information, call 488-7605, visit https://mattar7.wixsite.com/bustis-tap-house or find Busti Tap House on Facebook.