The Norfolk Pub is closing its doors for good on Jan. 31 after decades of service in downtown Norfolk.
The pub is located at 3 Station Place in Norfolk at the site of the historic Royal Arcanum Building, which dates back to 1904. The building was sold in September and the new owners, the American Folk & Heritage LLC, initially hoped to extend the lease of the pub but later claimed that it was uninsurable because of needed improvements and upgrades.
Prior to the September sale, Norfolk Hub had owned the building since 2021.
Heidi Forler, who has owned the Norfolk Pub for nearly two decades, said in a brief phone interview with The Courant that she found out a couple of months ago that her lease was not being renewed after the building was sold for $1.4 million.
“The people who bought the building — they are just not going to renew my lease,” Forler said. “What happens from that point on, or who they are or why or what their plans are, I don’t know. I don’t think anybody really knows. It’s their story to tell and they are not talking. … They can do whatever they want with it. I think that’s how they feel that it’s just their decision. They bought it. They have plans for it. They have designs for it. That’s just as simple as it is.”
Forler reiterated that she has no idea what is going to happen to the building.
“It’s shocking to the community. (The pub has) been here 50 years. I’ve been here for almost 20. I get it. I get what people are saying. It’s an institution here. But it’s not my story to tell. They just did not renew my lease. … It’s just that simple. … They are allowed to do whatever they want,” Forler said.
“We are all trying to find jobs and the whole nine. We have enough going on here,” she added.
American Folk & Heritage is owned by Norfolk residents Emily Adams Bode Aujla, Aaron Aujla and Dev Aujla. Emily Adams Bode Aujla is an award-winning fashion designer and owner of American luxury brand Bode.
“We believe in preserving American history and American folk craft and this is such a beautiful town. We love Norfolk,” Dev Aujla said.
Dev Aujla said American Folk & Heritage’s only goal is “to keep the building at the center of town and fix it up, do all the deferred maintenance, upgrade everything.”
Dev Aujla added that they hoped to extend the Norfolk Pub’s lease, but the owners later learned the building was uninsurable without major upgrades in the pub’s space.
“I don’t ever sign a lease with anybody that’s going to put a lot of debt on them or make them have to pay for something they can’t afford. We decided to take on all that work ourselves. We gave Heidi a couple months free rent and we had a conversation with her,” Dev Aujla said, adding that it was an unexpected development and the conversation with Forler was not contentious.
“Of course, she doesn’t want to leave, but of course she does not want hundreds of thousands of dollars to spend on upgrading all the stuff,” Dev Aujla said. “It was a normal conversation. I helped as much as I could and be a neighbor. We are trying to do the best we can by the town.
“This wasn’t the plan, but we need to keep everything upgraded and make sure everything is done,” he added. “We are just trying to make sure that everything is safe and good. I’m not going to make anyone sign that lease and have that burden. I’m not that guy. I would rather do it myself and pay for that, so everything is safe and operational.”
The pub has been a popular spot for Norfolk residents for decades. Norfolk First Selectman Henry Tirrell said the Norfolk Pub space has been a gathering place in town for his entire life.
“Even the night of my wedding, my wife and I and our wedding party ended up at the pub and celebrated there,” Tirrell said. “I also lived in the apartments above (the pub) for a couple of years, and it was certainly a place where I spent a lot of time in my youth.
“It’s been there for as long as most people can remember in different capacities with different owners. It’s certainly going to leave an empty spot in our downtown. Hopefully, it won’t be empty for too long,” he added.
Tirrell said he hadn’t had a chance to speak with the new building owners yet but hopes another restaurant or pub can return to the area in the future.
“We are lucky that we have two nice cafes that serve coffee, breakfast and lunch. There is something unique and special about a restaurant and a bar and what that adds to the downtown and the town in general. It’s great to have a place to get together and celebrate,” Tirrell said.
Lindsey Prevuznak, a longtime bartender at Norfolk Pub, recently posted on social media about the closing.
“As many of you are aware, we’ll be closing our doors on January 31, 2026, (not our decision) after an incredible 50+ years of having a local pub in the community. While this news may bring sadness, we choose to celebrate the joy and memories we’ve shared.
“Having been part of this local institution as your bartender for 10 wonderful years, I’ve witnessed firsthand the love and camaraderie that defines us. With our final month winding down and only 60 days to wrap up 17 years of business, we’re focused on making every moment count,” Prevuznak said. “We appreciate your understanding and patience, knowing that together, we’ll make this transition a remarkable testament to the community spirit that has defined us. Thank you for being part of The Norfolk Pub’s journey.”
The post received dozens of comments of customers saddened by the news.
“I’m heartbroken for you all. The town and its businesses need the pub. I hope all of you wonderful people will find a home somewhere else soon,” one post said.
“I can’t even imagine not having the pub there!” another person commented.
“Been going for over 50 years to this wonderful place under so many great names and owners. I wish you could continue for 50 more. Thank you for all you’ve done to make it a great place. Love you gals, will be by to see you soon,” another comment said.
Dev Aujla said American Folk & Heritage has no finalized plans for the building and are currently focused on making sure the building is renovated and safe.
“We had a walk around to figure out what needed to be done from the roof on down. We are still figuring it out. It’s an old building,” Dev Aujla said. “I am literally just trying to figure out what it’s going to take to make sure everything is usable and workable and safe and passes on everything and that’s my only focus right now. … My priority of the town is to make sure it stays at the center of the community and is in good condition.
“We have a like mind where we really want to preserve things,” he said. “We really believe in history. We really want to believe in preservation and restoring things to their original quality, and that was something that really aligned with the previous owners. We all believe in preserving old things and doing the work, even if it takes a little longer. You can do it fast and quick, but we always want to do the historical research to understand how things were. To understand what the intention was and make it right. That’s the work we are passionate about.”