John Walsh is no stranger to the Merrimack Valley. In fact, high school basketball fans will recognize him as Central Catholic’s head coach in 2017, ’18 and ’19. Even though he’s coaching back at Malden Catholic now, he and Billy Marsden, a friend of 20 years, are setting up to be local stalwarts, as they have taken over ownership of Muddy Waters Pub and Restaurant from 14-year owners Eddie and Stacy Hughes.
Muddy Waters Pub and Restaurant’s new owners, Billy Mardsen (left) and John Walsh, are feelin’ the love at their neighborhood bar. ML photo by Nancy Reardon
John and Billy have a history themselves. Beyond their friendship, they have bartended together for 15 years at Casey’s in East Somerville.
“We’ve been looking around for a place of our own, so we jumped at the chance when Ed and Stacy were selling,” said John.
Like any good coach, John knows not to change what’s working, and for that, there are no major changes planned for the popular neighborhood watering hole, at 940 Riverside Drive.
“It’s really a neighborhood bar, everyone’s been so welcoming, the people we have met have been incredible,” said John, who said they will be keeping the existing staff. “We may introduce a couple of new things with the menu, but we don’t really want to change it. It’s working well.”
Eagle Woodworking
Eagle Woodworking Custom Dove-Tail Drawers will be relocating their Middleton and Lawrence locations and consolidating in a new Methuen location. Their goal is to increase employment by 50% over the next five years. Tax incentives helped seal the deal to get them to move to their new location at 476 Broadway, the site of the former CREST Collaborative School. They specialize in high-end cabinets and drawers.
Hampstead House
New owners for the Hampstead House, near Route 97, have pulled permits and the location will likely remain a restaurant, according to Jack Wilson, director of Economic and Community Development: most likely a fine-dining steakhouse and martini bar with major interior renovations
