A Colchester dive bar has changed hands. B.U. Pub, also known as the B.U. Emporium, has been a staple at 164 Porters Point Road since the 1970s, serving cheap drinks to a strong roster of regulars. Last week, Rodney, Tracie and Jake Oliveira bought the bar from Debra LeBlanc, who will retire after 22 years of ownership, Rodney told Seven Days.
“It really is a neighborhood bar,” Rodney said. “[The regulars] do wellness checks; they bring in food; they pick up people who need rides. We want to make sure we’re supporting that and making a place for the next generation.”
The bar was briefly closed as the Oliveiras renovated its bathrooms, flooring and lighting. A grand reopening is planned for Saturday, November 7.
Rodney has lived in Colchester for 15 years, and it’s where he and Tracie raised their six kids. The couple often brought their adult son Jake, who has autism, to the B.U. Pub to listen to jukebox music. When LeBlanc needed a part-time bartender about a year ago, Rodney started working two nights a week on top of his full-time job at Edlund in Burlington.
Taking over is the family’s way “to give back to the community,” Rodney said. “People have been great to us and to our family.”
The original staff will stay, Rodney said. Tracie, who was a stay-at-home mom, will take on the day-to-day management while Jake handles cleaning and upkeep.
The remodel brings more of a pub vibe, with additional games and potential for live music, trivia and other entertainment. An updated kitchen will slowly roll out homestyle dishes and bar food, starting on weekends, and booze options will expand slightly while remaining focused on draft beer and basic mixed drinks.
“I can make a good Manhattan and martini,” Rodney said. “I’m just not sure how many I’ll serve.”
This article appears in November 4 • 2026.
Got something to say?
Send a letter to the editor and we'll publish your feedback in print!
