Flagstone Pub

The Beginning
The genesis of Flagstone pub was in the 1980’s, when Bob Arbizzani thought that the Little Owl Restaurant could be larger. For many years, it had been crowded, with limited seating. Many ideas were suggested, including adding a deli-style place next door, to a balcony on the roof or even an outside seating area. At that time, the decision was made to create “The Nest”, which opened up a small seating area that was previously hidden behind a wall. The much needed change satisfied the need for new space, but only to a limited degree. The idea for an even larger restaurant/bar would continue to endure for two more decades.
Change Was Needed
The Little Owl has been a successful business for many decades, but in early 21st century, things were beginning to change.  While the quality of the food and drink remained high, the customer base was shrinking.  Many folks who had patronized the Owl were retiring, moving away, or passing on. Younger people were not attracted to the dark “tavern” atmosphere, and places with with more room, entertainment, and games were the place to go. It was decided that the existing Little Owl Restaurant would have to change with the times. The local “cheers” type of restaurant tavern was no longer enough to keep pace with the modern business dynamic.
It was determined that it was time for a change. First, in late 2005, the existing Little Owl was remodeled, under the design supervision of John Arbizzani. Changes included a new hardwood floor, new tables, new lighting, and a new bar top. After the revamped “Owl” was opened, it was quickly realized that it was appealing to an entirely different market, younger people with larger disposable income and a desire to go out an have a good time.  By early 2006 it was realized that Bob Arbizzani’s dream of having a bigger restaurant could come true.

The Location: 105 West State Street
The physical location of Flagstone Pub has been many things over the years. From the 1960’s to 1980’s it was home to “The Outdoorsman”, a sporting goods store. Other residents included “The Birds Nest,” and ” Bark at the Moon”. In 1999 “Jesse & Choppers Place: Dingers Dog Bakery” took up residence, until they went out of business i n 2006. At that time, an opportunity was realized that had been discussed for many years.
The Team – All in the Family
In the spring of 2006, it was determined that the time had come for expansion. But who would take on this large project? It was decided to keep it in the family, with John Arbizzani being the lead designer, and Chris Arbizzani being the General Contractor. Bob Arbizzani would serve as financial officer. Later in the project, another very skilled family friend would be brought into the mix.

Demolition and Cleanup
To prepare the space for Flagstone Pub, a great deal of demolition work had to be done. The Dog Store had large, built-in shelves and counters that had to be dismantled. The ceiling was a green color, the walls orange, and the woodwork brown. It was evident that nearly everything would have to be scrapped and started from scratch.

Design

“Green” Demolition and Construction
It was decided early in the project to recycle as much material as possible from the Dog store. The shelves and cabinets were all made of sturdy construction materials that could be re-purposed and cut to fit project needs. As a matter of fact, all of the framing elements of the bar were made from recycled materials.

Re-Construction
The look of Flagstone Pub would not have been possible without the help of Lee Bernard from “The Rock Spa”. Lee was brought in as the Lead Carpenter, but ended up doing much more. He was responsible for the ornate woodwork details in the completed project.
Lee continues to do custom carpentry, stone work, and other projects. Visit his website at www.rockspainc.com