Shepherdstown resident Laura Bakin breaks open the crust of a chicken pot pie at Stoney’s Pub, during its grand opening on Oct. 22. Photo by Tabitha Johnston

SHEPHERDSTOWN — Within the first hour of its grand opening, Stoney’s Pub could be found brimming with life, as customers filled every seat at its bar and many of the tables in its dining area on Oct. 22.

Located at 107 South Princess Street in Shepherdstown, the pub is now the second Stoney’s branded restaurant in the Eastern Panhandle, with the first being Stoney’s Whiskey Wine & Raw Bar in Martinsburg. According to owner Nicole Stoneberger, who serves as the chief executive officer of Stoney’s Corporation, the goal has always been to open a restaurant in Shepherdstown.

“My husband and I love this town. Shepherdstown has always been a unique place — always very welcoming to everyone and very cultural. You get to enjoy all of those vibes at the same time,” Nicole said, mentioning she and her husband grew up on the other side of the county, in Charles Town, and have often visited Shepherdstown over the years. “It’s really exciting to be a part of that, officially.”

She noted that Stoney’s Pub has a raw bar, like her first restaurant, but unlike the upscale Stoney’s Whiskey Wine & Raw Bar, it features a laid back, sports bar atmosphere. Its menu also varies from that of her other restaurant, being what Nicole described as “elevated pub food.”

“It’s still pub food, but it’s a step above the average. You could still get some fun dishes here, like oysters or lobster rolls, or you could just get a BLT or some appetizers or flatbread pizza,” she said. “The menu is diverse enough, that there is something here for everyone.”

Stoney’s Corporation Director of Operations Jamey Stoneberger, left, stands by his wife, Stoney’s Corporation Chief Executive Officer Nicole Stoneberger, in front of Stoney’s Pub on Oct. 22. Photo by Tabitha Johnston

Although Nicole and her husband, Stoney’s Corporation Director of Operations Jamey Stoneberger, had long dreamed of opening a restaurant in Shepherdstown, the kind of restaurant it would be had largely remained up in the air. It was not until three months ago, when they were approached with the opportunity to lease the space by its owner, that the idea to open a pub was born.

“We wanted to have more of a sports pub here, because we knew with all of the other restaurants in town, they had fine dining covered,” Jamey said, noting the space had been set up for use as a bar, which contributed to the decision. “The last restaurant in this space was the Devonshire Arms Cafe & Pub. Before that, there was a bar here that had a big following — a lot of people liked hanging out here. When I started researching the space a bit, I saw that a number of people were asking for it to become a bar again.”

He noted that the bar underwent extensive renovations over the past two-and-a-half months, with its electricity being rewired, its plumbing being replaced, new toilets being installed and the layout being slightly altered, so the wall of the kitchen no longer blocks one of the windows in the dining area. In addition, new lighting and a sound system were installed, so the pub could easily host live music acts on the weekends and open microphone nights every other Wednesday from 8-11 p.m., beginning on Nov. 12.

To learn more, call 304-695-0710 or visit its Facebook page, at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581888042959.

A group of hungry customers complete an order at Stoney's Pub, during its grand opening celebration on Oct. 22. Photo by Tabitha Johnston

Customers relax at the bar of Stoney’s Pub, during its grand opening on Oct. 22. Photo by Tabitha Johnston