our Story

enjoy the local flavor - it’s all we got!

Coming from a long line of bars on Block Island (over 40 years) our fearless leader Lew Gaffett (island born and raised) has led us here. Lew had many businesses on the island but the bar business proved to be his forte. He was an affable, jovial, larger than life kind of guy. He enjoyed meeting people and was never a stranger to a story and a libation (or three). He was known to always have a stack of 3x5s in his top pocket to jot down his and others thoughts or ideas.

He started out with a tiny islanders bar called the Monday Night Club (79-82) in the old bowling alley at the Seacrest, moved onto what is now our friends at Club Soda, but at the time he had it he called it Some Place Else (82-83). From there he purchased a piece of land and built Sam Peckhams Inn and Tavern and the Idyl Lewis (83-03). 10 years later he moved onto The Albion Pub (94-07) into what is now Poor Peoples Pub. Next was the first iteration of the Old Island Pub (across from the Yellow Kittens and next door to McAloons) (12-17) and finally to our final resting place, the new Old Island Pub (2019), here at 85 Ocean Avenue, across from Kimberlys.

He loved the bar business but almost more than that he loved the project. Unfortunately he passed away on July 4th, 6 weeks shy of opening the doors of this pub. His son Nat and granddaughter Paige, who walked with him through this final project are now the proprietors. So sit, drink, eat and spin a tale or two and always have a 3x5 in your pocket ready to jot down and idea-because you never know where it will lead you.

In a time of trendy bars and themes of all kinds sometimes just a friendly local joint is what is needed. Please enjoy the local flavor-it’s all we got!