Buck’s Naked BBQ & Steakhouse in the Old Port will close Aug. 20 and be replaced with a sports bar.
The barbecue restaurant at 50 Wharf St. is owned by Wendyll and Alex Caisse, who said they’ve decided to concentrate their efforts on their other two Buck’s locations, in Freeport and Windham, which are “super busy.”
The Wharf Street lease will be taken over by Mark Deane of Portland, who plans to open a new sports bar there called Mark’s Sports, according to papers filed with the city. There is a year left on the lease.
Deane is a businessman behind other Old Port night spots, including Mark’s Place and Pearl Tap House, both on Fore Street.
Buck’s opened its Portland location four years ago. In a news release, the Caisses said they planned “to evaluate and explore the marketplace for more strategic locations for the family-friendly concept.”
The staff was notified of the closing in early July; some employees will be moving to the restaurant’s other locations. Al Brown, operations manager of the Buck’s Naked BBQ restaurant group, said the company would give “full pay and bonuses to all who facilitate a smooth ending.”
Mark’s Sports, which will serve pub-style food, has set a target opening date of Sept. 1.
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