By Connie Leinbach
An Ocracoke institution and destination since 1979, Howard’s Pub has been sold to Colin Wiseman of Nags Head.
The sale was completed in May to Wiseman, who owns Mulligan’s in Nags Head, The Rundown Café in Kitty Hawk and Oscars of Summerville in Summerville, South Carolina.
“The Pub is such an iconic destination that he was familiar with it and he knew how successful it had been, and he was looking to acquire an additional restaurant,” said current owner Ann Warner.
The two are working together to put all the pieces together and will continue to make the transition as smooth as possible.
The staff and menu will stay the same, she said.
“There’s a great legacy here and I really want to continue that going forward,” Wiseman said.
It’s been 35 years since Warner became part owner of the establishment, and it was time for her to pass the torch to the younger generation, she said.
Since her husband, Buffy, died 21 years ago, she’s operated it on her own.
“I’m 67 and I just thought it was the right time for me to find somebody from the next generation, that had the expertise and the leadership and the ability to take on the Pub,” she said.
While Wiseman said he will be working between his businesses, the Pub should fare well.
“We have a great team and support staff,” he said.
Restaurant work is in his blood.
“It’s all I’ve done,” he said, “from a (table) busser, then a server and a bartender.”
He’s looking forward to being a part of the community.
The following historical account is from Philip Howard’s online newsletter at http://www.villagecraftsmen.com.
In 1978 Ron Howard, direct descendant of an early colonial owner of Ocracoke Island, decided to build a pub on his property at the edge of Ocracoke village on the southwest side of Irvin Garrish Highway.
He opened Howard’s Pub in April 1979.
For the first time in more than half a century Ocracoke islanders and visitors could order a cold beer in a local restaurant.
Ron’s 77-year-old father, Edgar Howard, remarked, “We’ll have hard-core hippies, hard-core Yankees, and hard-core Southerners. We’re going to mix them all and I hope they all get along!”
After some initial rowdiness from inebriated customers, for the 1981 season Ron decided the Pub needed a makeover.
Ron opened in the spring as a bar and deli, with no band. However, his father Edgar, a talented banjo player, was available to entertain his son’s clientele.
In the 1920s and 1930s Edgar played the vaudeville circuit in several large cities, including New York and Philadelphia, with such notables as Gene Autry, Milton Berle and Al Jolson.
After several years of the Pub changing hands, in 1991 Ron sold his business and property to George (Buffy) and Ann Warner.
The new owners considered changing the business name but decided to keep it.
Under their management, as Buffy did a lot to advertise it, Howard’s Pub and Raw Bar Restaurant continued to flourish, becoming one of the best-known and most popular eateries on the Outer Banks.
“I’m excited that someone is willing to take on the pub and its personality,” Warner said. “It’s an iconic destination.”
