Uncle Larry’s Bar on Main Street in Sackville has seen some changes in the past few months, ever since new owner Matthew Bugley took over in May.

CHMA stopped by to hear about Bugley’s plan for the Main Street drinking establishment.

More live music and events are in the future for Uncle Larry’s Bar, says Bugley. “I’m looking for something that we can kind of make our own,” he says. “And I really want to focus on more live music… Everybody seems to enjoy it.”

Bugley has been working with a DJ group out of Moncton, and also local musician Kevin Christopher to host open mic nights. Bugley says he is “definitely open to suggestions on what we should do for theme nights, or any suggestions at all whatsoever.”

Bugley has refreshed the interior with some new equipment and a new paint job. The old pool table is gone, with space going to more seating when new furniture arrives. “We’re looking forward to making new renovations moving forward as well,” says Bugley. A name change is even a possibility, says Bugley and he’s open to ideas. “The overall atmosphere we’re looking for is friendly, fun, clean, and good spot just to hang out.”

Bugley is an Amherst resident who returned to the east coast a few years ago after working for a decade out west, and deciding to stay home to see his young son grow up. He took the leap into bar ownership in May after a conversation with the previous owner, the eponymous Larry, who he’s known for years. “I told him I’d wanted to be in the area, and I was looking at maybe purchasing a business,” recalls Bugley. “And he said, well, I’d consider selling you my bar. So I came over with him a few evenings and looked some things over and thought we could make it work. And here we are today.”

“We’re learning as we go,” says Bugley of himself and his eight employees. “They’re all doing a great job.”

“I think everybody would be surprised with the changes that have been made, and the atmosphere, how it’s changed overall,” says Bugley. “I’d love to see everybody come down and say hello.”