After 25 years, Sudbury’s Dog House serves final round of beer and wings

It's the end of an era in downtown Sudbury.

After almost 25 years of serving wings and beer across the street from Sudbury Arena, the Dog House has closed its doors for good.

If there was a place in Sudbury where everyone knew your name, where they were always glad you came, you could make the argument that the Dog House was it.

With the building sold to the city to make way for a new development, Wednesday was the establishment’s last night in business.

"It's a little bittersweet,” said bar manager Martin Gingras.

“It would have been nice to have been able to go out on our own terms, but it's been a blast this past week. Seeing all our old regulars and friends pop back in.”

“I've watched kids grow up and bring their own kids in over the 23 years that I've been here, so it's even more amazing the owner's been here longer than that,” Gingras added.

After almost 25 years of serving wings and beer across the street from Sudbury Arena, the Dog House has closed doors for good Wednesday night. (Photo from video)

After almost 25 years of serving wings and beer across the street from Sudbury Arena, the Dog House has closed doors for good Wednesday night. (Photo from video)

“It's been a lot of fun this last week."

For many patrons Wednesday night, watching the Sudbury Wolves play on Elgin Street isn't going to be quite the same without some lemon pepper wings and a pint of their favourite brew.

"I think the ease of access to the arena, just how you know close it is, how it became a part of the Wolves games, how it became a part of downtown really,” said Dog House patron Russell Hopkins.

Cultural significance

“I'd even say it has cultural significance. It's shown up in Shoresy and stuff like that. I think it is a part of Sudbury."

"You know I'm going to miss coming here before Wolves games,” chimed in patron Brad Masson.

“It's always a great time to come here, drink a couple of beers, have some wings and cheer on the Wolves."

While the bar is closing, some people are hoping the Dog House can be resurrected somewhere else downtown.

"It's not the end, James and Leslie won't end it,” said Timmy Dier, a longtime patron.

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“They have to keep it going. Look at everybody coming around, they're all coming not to say goodbye, but hey, where are we opening up? That's what it is."

For now, many patrons said they are ready to raise a glass to some good memories -- and hopefully a new chapter.