Borough couple pours heart into pub

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Samantha and Richard Caron of Naugatuck are the owners of The Pour House Sports Tavern on Church Street in Naugatuck. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held at the sports bar Aug. 30. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI
Samantha and Richard Caron of Naugatuck are the owners of The Pour House Sports Tavern on Church Street in Naugatuck. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held at the sports bar Aug. 30. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI

NAUGATUCK — The pub at 175 Church St. in Naugatuck has had many names and incarnations over the years — Smoking Sandy’s and Melissa’s Café to name a couple.

“How many dates did you go out on before you got married? Guess what this place just got married,” said Samantha Caron standing before family, friends and local dignitaries Aug. 30 inside the bar.

Samantha and her husband Richard Caron are the new owners of the pub, which is now The Pour House Sports Tavern. The Carons, who have been married for 15 years and lived in Naugatuck for the past 13 years, held a ribbon cutting Aug. 30 to usher in the era of The Pour House.

“This is what we need in downtown Naugatuck,” Mayor Robert Mezzo said. “This is a first-class establishment.”

Mezzo, who congratulated the couple, said the Carons they put their heart and soul into The Pour House and it really shows.

High definition flat screen TVs dot the walls of The Pour House along side sports memorabilia, including Naugatuck High School jerseys. On tap are a number of craft beers from the Hartford-based City Steam Brewers to a German-style Kolsch.

“It’s been a long road, it’s been a hard road, but we did it,” Samantha Caron said as tears of joy streamed down her face.  

Samantha Caron has been in the restaurant business for over 30 years and used to own Café Bella Vita in Branford. The idea for The Pour House flows from another sports bar with the same name.

Samantha Caron said her cousin Steve Cronan owns The Pour House Sports Tavern in Wolcott and they decided to take the name and idea and brand it. She said the vision for The Pour House is not for a corporate-style sports bar, but rather one where people can take their children, relax and have a good time.

The Carons have teamed up with Matt Ensero of Wing It On! to keep the bellies of customers full. On the menu are nearly 20 different flavors of wings, from garlic parm to mango habanero, and an assortment of wraps and burgers.

Samantha Caron said they first started talking about opening The Pour House around Christmas time last year. As soon as the idea came up, she said, she wanted the pub with the address on Church Street but the main entrance tucked into a parking lot on Old Firehouse Road.

“I love Naugatuck and I love this place,” Samantha Caron said.

The Carons said their hearts and sights were set on opening the sports bar in Naugatuck. 

“We wanted to support our town,” said Richard Caron, who is a carpenter by trade.

“We’re very excited,” Samantha Caron added. “I’m just really excited to be in town.”

The Pour House Sports Tavern is open seven days a week starting at 11:30 a.m. For more information, visit pourhousenaugatuck.com.