Who Else Remembers Legendary Bangor, Maine, Night Club Barnaby's?

If you lived in the greater Bangor area in the last 1990s/early 2000s, chances are (if you were old enough) you visited (at least once in your life, perhaps more than once) the legendary Bangor nightclub "Barnaby's".

Free Martin was the man with the plan that transformed a small bar and restaurant into "the" place to be on weekends.

Free Martin owner of Barnaby's, Cori Skall

"There was a bar there, and a restaurant called Barnaby's. I converted the bar and restaurant into a nightclub in 1998 and closed it in September 2013, 15 years later."

Infamous Barnaby's Halloween Party 1, Free Martin

"I worked every night from 8 pm until 2 am for 15 years straight. I didn't take a night off, ever."

Whether it was Wednesday Night, ladies night, Thirsty-Thursdays, Friday Night Variety Night, or Saturday Night, Dance Party Night, the dance floor at Barnaby's, which you couldn't even see from the DJ booth, was always packed.

That was due to the club's house DJ, Michael O'Hara, who was also responsible for producing all of those catchy radio ads that you'd hear every day.

Want to take an auditory trip down memory lane? Just press play!

If you spent time at the club, you'd most certainly recognize these ladies, the Barnaby's bartenders, Shelly, Dee, and Jenn.

Barnaby's Bartenders: Shelly, Dee and Jenn, Free Martin

And this guy, who was there almost as much as Martin was (which was every night for over a decade!)

Lew Cleveland, head of Barnaby's security team and police liaison, Free Martin

"The man beside the cash drawer with the glasses on is my right-hand man, Lew Cleveland, who was head of my security team and police liaison. Lew was the nicest guy in the world until it was time not to be nice. When was that time? I let him know. "

For years, folks would flock to Barnaby's to meet up with old friends or make new ones and to drink and dance the night away.

Infamous Barnaby's Halloween Party 5, Free Martin

Sometimes it could get a little rowdy, and that's when Bangor's finest, many of whom worked security for the club when they weren't on the clock for the City, would step in.

Those who were repeat offenders or who caused too much trouble made Martin's special "PEG" binder, where he kept all of the criminal trespass notices served to "previously evicted guests,". Most were banned from coming to the club for a year, some for more.

The club was also known for its Halloween Costume Parties.

Infamous Barnaby's Halloween Party 2, Free Martin

Infamous Barnaby's Halloween Party 4, Free Martin

Infamous Barnaby's Halloween Party 3, Free Martin

Martin closed the club in 2013. And for many years, Bangor's nightlife just wasn't the same.

Barnaby's shirt, Cori Skall

Then, in 2022, owners of the Blue Sky Lounge, the spot that opened up in the renovated space where "Bangor's Hottest Nightclub" used to be, decided to capitalize on the sense of nostalgia, according to WABI, TV, and brought back a "one-night-only, Barnaby's throwback night," which people flocked to!

Blue Sky Lounge, AJ

Since then, the new tenants have had a handful of other "Barnaby's" throwback events, which have done very well, along with many of their own events.

Blue Sky 'Barnaby's Night', Blue Sky Lounge Bangor via Facebook

While those "Barnaby's" days might have passed, for many, the fuzzy memories will always remain.

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To hear a chat with Free Martin about those Barnaby's days--the good, the bad, and the ugly-- you can click here to listen.

Feel free to share your favorite Barnaby's stories, too.

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