New pub coming to Port Huron

The building most recently known as Neal’s Bar and Grill will soon re-open with a new name and under new ownership.

The inside of the building at 2336 Conner St., Port Huron, has been stripped down to its bare bones as the new owners work to remodel the bar and restaurant.

Conner Street Pub will open by the second week of August with a food-focused mission.

“We will have all homemade food,” said Dino Tata, Conner Street Pub co-owner. “We’re not looking to be the corner bar that closes at 2 a.m. We want to be known for our food and will probably close at 11 p.m. or midnight at the latest.”

Tata, 54, of Macomb Township, purchased the bar on May 15 along with Buster Tisdelle, 70, of Warren, and Clyde Moss, 56, of Harrison Township.

Tata has 35 years of catering experience and previously owned Harold’s Bar and Grill in Sterling Heights before he sold it. Moss currently owns CJ’s Company Store in Warren, a deli market and restaurant. Tisdelle works in real estate and claims to be the best eater of food around.

“Before we can open we need to put down all new flooring, a new bar top, new booths, new tables and chairs,” Tata said. “We are completely remodeling.”

While the front of the building needs a complete remodel, the back kitchen is in fair shape, Tata said.

Tata estimated the remodel would be a near $200,000 investment.

Tata said while the trio of owners are all from Macomb County, they were interested in the building location because it was near the water and also felt Port Huron was in the midst of a growth spurt.

Prior to being Neal’s Bar and Grill, the bar on Conner Street between Electric Avenue and Military Street was known as Sportsmans Bar and Grill for nearly 40 years.

“We want to bring back to this side of the neighborhood a bar that is known for their food, like Sportsmans was,” Tata said.

The pub will also have a catering business and a banquet room in the back.

Tata said the pub will have a variety of fresh food from pulled pork to smoked pastrami to an array of sandwiches with homemade bread.

“We will do all of our own smoking in the back and we will smoke our chicken wings, too, not fry them,” Tata said. “We will also have wine and a variety of craft beers. Basically all of our experience in the restaurant industry we are combining and it will be even better than what we have previously been known for.”

Tata said they have not decided yet if the pub will host entertainment throughout the week or not.

Contact Nicole Hayden at (810) 989-6279 or nhayden@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @NicoleHayden_TH.

NEW PUB

•Conner Street Pub will open in mid-August at 2326 Conner St., Port Huron.