Thirsty Moose Taproom Coming Downtown

What has four legs and an unquenchable thirst for beer?

If you guessed The Thirsty Moose Taproom, one of Portsmouth's newest restaurants, you would be right. According to a building permit issued on Monday, the new restaurant and bar will soon serve patrons in the former home of Foobar at 21 Congress St.

On Monday afternoon, interior renovation work to transform the former Foobar into the Thirsty Moose was already underway. According to the permit issued by the Building Inspector's office, the construction cost for the renovation is about $1,000.

The buiding's owners, Wenberry Associates, are leasing the commercial space to the new restaurant, but it is not clear if there will be live music like Foobar and its predecessor, the Muddy River Smokehouse. The Muddy River operated in the space for 15 years before it gave way to Portside Seafood and then Foobar.

The of Portsmouth, and the Thirsty Moose will occupy 7,500 square feet of space. There is also 5,000 square feet for kitchen and restaurant space and 2,000 square feet in the lower level with a built out bar and music space.