T&B Pub aiming to be a Canton fixture

Local restaurateur Rod Lampron is a native of Charlestown and a resident of Norwood, but his new eatery, T&B Pub, is undeniably Canton — from the family-style atmosphere right down to the restaurant’s décor.

(L-R) T&B bartenders Angie Hawe, Kelly Pfeffer and Brian Brown

“My whole vision was to create a place for the people of Canton,” said Lampron, who opened for business in September at 521 Washington Street. “I really wanted this to be Canton’s home.”

The new restaurant, which takes the place of Finbarr’s Auld Irish Pub, serves up a variety of homemade dishes, including “comfort foods” such as shepherd’s pie, beef stew, and chicken pot pie. Lampron also takes requests and has already added a number of dishes to the menu based on feedback from customers.

“I’m not a chain; I’m not cookie-cutter,” said the new owner. “I’ll do anything you want.”

In keeping with the hometown theme, T&B has dedicated all of its wall space to Canton-related memorabilia, including photographs of players and teams from Canton High School, Blue Hills Regional, and nearby private schools. “Nothing else” besides these local items will grace the walls, according to Lampron.

Included in his collection thus far is a No. 27 Bulldog football jersey, hung in honor of former star running back Ricky Shannon (’82), who perished in a house fire in 2008. He also recently added a CHS cheerleading jacket, which he obtained from fellow downtown business owner Betsy Freshman, owner of Betsy’s Barber Shop.

“I have generations on the wall,” said Lampron, “and I think it’s so nice because when you come in here you feel a part of it.”

And there is still plenty of room to add new items, he insisted, while promising that if a customer brings something in to the restaurant, “it will go up on the wall the next day.”

Of course, Lampron knows from experience that it takes more than decorations to win customers’ loyalty. It also takes good food, good service, and consistency in both areas — three keys to success he learned from his father, a longtime restaurant and tavern owner.

In fact, some of Lampron’s earliest memories are of helping out at the family restaurant in Boston’s South End. “I was bussing tables when I was 7 years old,” he recalled.

Years later, while in college, he partnered with his father before going to work for the Back Bay Restaurant Group, owners of Joe’s American Bar and Grille, Charley’s and Papa Razzi, among others. He then spent the next two decades in sales for various beer distributorships before deciding to “roll the dice” with the purchase of Finbarr’s.

“At 50 years old I decided to come back into the business,” said Lampron, who credits a friend, Canton resident Kelly Pfeffer, for giving him the push that he needed.

He ended up naming it T&B Pub after his two sons, 15-year-old Travis and 11-year-old Brett. Both boys have been a big help throughout the process, as has his wife, Julie-Ann.

Rod Lampron with his wife, Julie-Ann, and two sons, Travis and Brett

From a personal standpoint, Lampron is most proud of the design of the restaurant as well as the fact that they only serve homemade dishes, including several items prepared with traditional family recipes.

Lampron also feels fortunate to have a “great staff,” which he described as “very personable, conscientious, and caring.” And with a staff he trusts, Lampron is free to focus on other aspects of the business, including community relations, which he described as a top priority at T&B.

“Whatever I can do to help the town, I’ll do it,” he said. “I’m big into the community – that’s my thing.”

A longtime hockey and football coach, Lampron has already reached out to various sports teams in town, even sponsoring a team in the Men’s Softball League prior to the restaurant’s opening. He is also planning to host a pancake breakfast on Thanksgiving morning for all of the Bulldog football players and cheerleaders — his way of showing support before the big game with rival Stoughton.

The bottom line, Lampron said, is that “if you give back to the community, you’ll get it back tenfold,” and Lampron would like to see T&B Pub become a fixture in Canton for years to come.

So far the restaurant has been embraced, he said, and they are beginning to see a lot of repeat customers. It’s a good start to be sure; however, Lampron, as one might expect, is far from satisfied.

“I don’t want you in here once a week,” he said. “I want you in here two or three times a week. I want people to feel comfortable in here and want to come back again and again.”

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Posted by Jay Turner on Oct 26 2011. Filed under Business. Both comments and pings are currently closed.