Buddy T’s Grill & Sports Bar — whose identify pays tribute to the late Dartmouth football coach Buddy Teevens ’79 — opened at 7 Lebanon St. on Jan. 14. The restaurant replaces Dunk’s Sports Grill, which occupied the placement for 4 years and closed on Sept. 28, 2025.
Owner Jennifer Packard, who additionally owns Molly’s Restaurant and Bar, mentioned Buddy T’s will likely be extra “food-forward” than Dunk’s. The sports activities bar encompasses a “scratch kitchen” led by longtime Molly’s chef Ryan O’Day, and the menu options objects such because the hen parm tortellini, fish and chips, banh mi sliders and extra.
“We want people to think of it as a place to go have dinner,” Packard mentioned. “[We’re] trying to elevate what would traditionally be known as a sports bar menu.”
Packard envisions the sports activities bar “[crossing] the bridge between the community and the College.” This imaginative and prescient, she mentioned, was impressed by Teevens, who was concerned in “so much” of the neighborhood and sports activities exterior of Dartmouth.
Teevens would usually convey gamers and recruits to Molly’s and was “super respectful” and “very welcoming” to workers, Packard mentioned.
“He took care of my team,” Packard mentioned. “I’m gonna take care of this team.”
Teevens was Dartmouth’s all-time winningest coach, a five-time Ivy League champion and a nationwide innovator in football security. Hanover resident Jennifer Pope, who was eating on the restaurant together with her household, known as the tribute to Teevens “really important.”
“He was an incredible part of the history of Dartmouth football,” Pope mentioned. “To be able to celebrate him in a local restaurant is awesome.”
Pope mentioned her household used to frequent Dunk’s and that it was a “nice option in town.” However, she added that’s excited in regards to the new managers and the Dartmouth memorabilia in Buddy T’s.
Pope added that she thinks the opening of Buddy T’s a “great opportunity in town” if the restaurant can make use of locals.
Buddy T’s workers are a “tight-knit” group, most of whom had labored collectively at Molly’s, based on server and bartender Sam Maynes, who began at Molly’s in September.
“I’ve worked with the previous ownership and I much enjoyed working for them,” Maynes shared. “I like the idea of being a part of getting something off the ground.”
Bartender Lindsay Pearson, who joined the workers in December, mentioned the workers tradition was “like a little family.” She added that she seems to be ahead to extra diners visiting the restaurant and “making connections” with prospects.
“It really caters to Dartmouth students and the amount of sports culture around Hanover,” Pearson mentioned. “It’s only going to get busier and busier. Once we get the full football season next year, that’ll be exciting.”
Packard mentioned the sports activities bar will “make sure” to indicate Dartmouth video games on T.V.s and has additionally reached out to native highschool coaches in order that their video games are proven when televised.
“I’m really looking forward to … seeing players that played for [Teevens] come back and get to see some of the stuff we’ve put in here,” Packard mentioned. “I’m also really looking forward to seeing how the local high school sports can kind of turn this into their home.”
