WESTBROOK — The former Military Historians Museum got a new life serving tavern burgers and craft beers with Charter Oak Tavern's opening Thursday.
A large collection of military uniforms was once displayed on mannequins in what is now the dining area and bar, where chairs were piled high two days before opening.
The 18-seat restaurant across the town green at 24 N. Main St., will have the vibe of an English pub, but not the darkened atmosphere, said chef-owner Scott Quinn.
Inside, artwork depicting animals garbed in formal Victorian costume covers nearly all the wall space above deep green wainscotting in the 1,605-square-foot space.
Quinn is aiming for the look and feel of a “neighborhood tavern,” which he described as “a very neighborhood friendly restaurant” and not just a bar that serves food to patrons as a sideline.
The Charter Oak Tavern will focus on “food first, drinks come second,” he said.
Quinn, a Madison resident, had worked as a chef all over, aiming to explore the world and find the best chefs he could cook for before he returned to his home state 20 years later. His culinary experience spans Michelin-starred restaurants and bistros, according to the restaurant’s website.
He said he stumbled upon this place while driving, looking at Westbook.
“Wow, this is a really charming and cute center of town," he said. "And I was like, 'What's going on with that building?'”
The military museum closed in 2018 after operating for decades. The town had approved an 18-seat restaurant for the building in 2022 when Whole Enchilada applied for a special exception. But the Mexican eatery didn’t pursue the project.
Charter Oak Tavern leases the building from Kenneth Reid, whose family had owned it since the early 1900s, according to town hall records. The Reids operated the building as a Military Historians Museum from the 1980s, according to town officials. At one point it operated at a U.S. Post Office.
Once inside, Quinn was charmed.
“I looked around and I just saw all the possibilities of it," he said, pointing to the picture-window views of the town green.
He said he was facing a “total rebuild,” adding, “there was nothing in here“ and worked round the clock with staff, family and friends for 10 days straight to get it open this week.
Signature dishes at the pub include braised short rib croquettes, New York strip steak and a salmon crudo that's a play on lox on bagels.
Sam Lyman, of Lyman Real Estate Brokerage & Development, who brokered the deal, said as a lifelong Westbrook resident he sees a good fit with the tavern in the town center. Lyman also serves on the town center revitalization committee.
“The town green definitely needs more life, and I think this is the perfect component to add to make sure that comes to fruition,” Lyman said. “This is a type of use that will attract people from walking more downtown, encourage other businesses to come to the town and to downtown.”
Lyman noted the building lingered on the market for three years without a tenant. He blames the lack of septic capacity in that area of town.
“A lot of restaurants did not like the fact that you were limited by 18 seats. So, the septic was our biggest enemy,” he said, adding that increasing septic capacity is something he and others on the town center revitalization committee “are kind of fighting for.”