After more than 15 years, KJ’s Restaurant & Pub is preparing to say farewell this weekend.
The restaurant is hosting a “farewell KJs” event on Saturday evening from 7 pm to 1 am, the Facebook Event description states;
Closing party … We will be closing our doors Sunday night but would love to see all our friends new and old … Come down and try some of our drink specials and bucket of beers …. It will be a sad night but filled with friends and memories … See everyone there Saturday night!!!!
Several Facebook users have asked what the future plans are for the restaurant, KJ’s has not publically responded to any of the inquiries. What’sUpNewp reached out to KJ’s for comment on their closure on Friday, that request has not been responded to.
In January, KJ’s current owners John Gullison and Bonnie Zimble applied to Middletown town council applied to construct a four-story hotel (18 rooms) with an accessory restaurant on the property.
KJ’s was placed on the market in February for $1,390,000, the listing price includes the building, business, and liquor license.
Listing Description on Loopnet
This spacious and well maintained building offers approximately 10,000 square feet of space over two levels of dining, pub and formal bar space. There is an tower space that can function as a private dining room with wonderful beach views and a third floor office space of 400 square feet.
Main level is an informal pub that has been popular with locals for decades. The main level bar has a smaller kitchen well suited to pub grub with the option to easily convert part of the kitchen space back to a full round bar configuration. Keg room on main floor behind the bar for easy access. There is a dumb waiter between the first floor and second floor kitchens to allow greater flexibility for service styles.
Main level pub has large booths, a nicely laid out pool room and a beautiful games room currently equipped with leased arcade style games, a gas fireplace and soft seating for sports nights.
The second level can be accessed from the main level bar or from the upper or lower level parking lot via a separate stair case. This provides flexibility of dining and entertaining space. The full kitchen on the second level can support both dining rooms or be used for more formal occasions.Why pay for a Newport liquor license ($250,000 and up) when you can pay a nominal fee to Middletown?
Aquidneck Avenue is experiencing a renaissance with the addition of a new 200+ room hotel, Atlantic Resort, the redevelopment of Seabreeze Hotel and the recent acquisition by the Longwood Group of the Newport Beach House, a premier wedding destination. In addition to the Atlantic Beach Hotel & Suites and the Comfort Inn at Newport Beach, the property is on the edge of a dense enclave of summer rentals spanning the price range from summer cheap to $10,000 week properties. 59 Aquidneck is ideally located to support both the hotels and the wedding venue.
Take advantage of the prime beach proximate location (see the aerial video and pics for distance) and bring your restaurant to this rapidly growing section of this popular destination.
Property Details via Warner Realty Group
Looking to purchase a restaurant/bar in Newport, Rhode Island? Why pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for a liquor license in Newport? Located in the rapidly developing Newport Beach area of Middletown and surrounded by hotels and wedding venues, this popular landmark restaurant/pub is ready for a new life. Fully equipped and furnished as a restaurant/pub the property can immediately to a new business in it’s current layout while you plan and institute your vision for a successful venture by the beach. (KJ’s Name and Business does not convey) Two levels of dining and bar areas with two kitchens and a large, highly functional wait station on the second floor. First floor has a popular pub style space with large booths, high tops, pretty wood bar and a smaller kitchen ideally suited for pub grub with a smaller cook and wait area. The first and second floor kitchens are connected by a dumb waiter allowing the main upstairs kitchen to service the pub level more easily. The first floor also offers a games room with a fire place, tvs, arcade machines currently being leased and great space for more al fresco dining. The second floor has the main kitchen with a full line, large wait station, prep room with sink and laundry, walk-in fridge and freezer and large, functional dish room. The second floor bar is a more formal affair, with four booths for bar dining along with the bar itself. There are two dining rooms on this level which can easily be converted into a single dining area if needed. There is a private dining area on the third floor for a small group or meeting space with great views of Easton’s pond, Cliff Walk and First Beach. The office is located in a separate third floor tower with views down to the second floor dining room and bar, a shower and bathroom, and two separate office spaces. Parking for 45 cars, something you just don’t find too often in Newport, makes the location easy to serve for your clientele.
