Old fashioned Sault tavern, local landmark to reopen in September

Reggie’s Place Tavern, at 458 Queen St E., has a new operator who is working on finishing touches to the downtown landmark gathering place, preparing to open its doors Sept. 1.

Born and raised in the Sault, new Reggie’s Place Tavern operator Randy Lapossie told SooToday “I’ve always worked in kitchens, then I had a career working on the railroad, then I saw this opportunity and I wanted to make a go of this at a place that’s been going for years. It was one of the first places as a child I went into with my grandpa.”

The tavern, which has had a troubled story of late, including a fire and a series of break ins, has long been a downtown landmark.

“I just enjoyed the fact it was an older atmosphere. It felt like fun. It was like an old tavern, I tried a game of pool out and I went from there,” Lapossie said.

“I was thinking about it for the last year, driving by it and wondering if there was something we could do to bring it back to where it was, just because it was an old tavern and it’s been a part of Sault Ste. Marie for as long as I can remember.”

“People enjoyed themselves there and they like that atmosphere, so I wanted to try and give that back to the community by bringing something old, but cleaned up, back to the Sault. I want to keep things the same but with a couple of upgrades, like a full kitchen, but I want to keep it as the old Reggie’s Tavern.”

Lapossie told us this marks his first business venture.

“I’m very excited.”

“We’re just working out some final details (regarding COVID-19 regulations)...we’re pretty much good to go with seating,” Lapossie said.

“Everybody has said ‘we miss Reggie’s.’ That was the inspiration for me to reopen it. I’ve got people coming by and everybody wants to see Reggie’s back and open.”

Live music from Sault band Bone Yard, scheduled for Sept. 11 and 12, will follow shortly after the tavern’s reopening, Lapossie said.