Bar Publica recently announced on social media that it will close for the season on Sunday, with plans to reopen in April.
The Instagram post set the re-opening date for Monday, April 6, immediately following Easter. Bar Publica partner Spencer Brantley could not be reached before deadline to explain why he has decided to shutdown for six months.
Bar Publica launched in June 2024. The 3,000-square-foot site at 82 Hanover St. — former home to The Yard — seats almost 300, including outdoor seating at a rooftop bar. Brantley has said the venue was meant to help revive Portland’s bar scene. Still, especially since hiring Chef Ron Medlock — founding chef of Papi — Bar Publica has developed a reputation for its Puerto Rican cuisine.
Bar Publica is still taking inquiries for private events at the venue between October and April, according to their social media posts.
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