Sportsman's Turns 100 — and Celebrates With a Brand-New Menu
Main Avenue's century-old pub is debuting a new menu today, throwing a party from 2 p.m. to close, and handing the mic to all of us at 8. Clear your Friday.
One hundred years. That's how long Sportsman's Public House has been doing its thing on Main Avenue, and the pub is marking the milestone the right way: new food, a party, and karaoke. Starting today, Friday, September 25, Sportsman's is rolling out a brand-new menu as the centerpiece of its centennial celebration, with the doors open for the festivities from 2 p.m. until close.
If you've lived here longer than about fifteen minutes, you've probably ended up at Sportsman's at some point — after a game, after a long week, after "just one" turned into two. It's one of those places that feels like it's always been there, mostly because it has.
The new menu drops today
The big news for your stomach: the centennial party doubles as the debut of a brand-new menu. The team hasn't shared the full lineup publicly ahead of launch, and the birdie in the orange vest was uncharacteristically tight-lipped, so today is the day you find out what's on it. Consider yourself officially invited to do some research.
This isn't the first time the kitchen has gotten a glow-up. Owner Michael Schnidrig, who took over in 2018, has put real work into the menu and the vibe, steering the place toward a family-friendly dining room where you can bring the kids for a burger without anyone getting an unscheduled vocabulary lesson. Earlier this summer, the pub even got a visit from America's Best Restaurants, the online series that spotlights independently owned spots around the country. A new menu for year 100 is the natural next chapter.
The Centennial Party
A century on Main Avenue
Before it was pouring pints, the building was a Model T auto shop. It became a restaurant in 1926, which means Sportsman's has now outlasted Prohibition, a whole lot of Ridgefield growth spurts, and at least a few decades of questionable karaoke choices. The building is a designated local historic landmark today.
The real showpiece is behind the bar. That ornate back bar dates to the 1700s, and according to Sportsman's lore it originally came off a ship. Is that the whole story? Unclear. Is it a great story to tell your out-of-town friends while pointing dramatically at woodwork? Absolutely.
Over those hundred years, Sportsman's has had just five owners. The previous owner, Terry Hurd, led the renovation that turned it into a full restaurant with its added annex. Schnidrig has carried it from there, with General Manager Candace Joiner running the day-to-day alongside a staff she describes as "more than just a team; we are a family." In a note about the celebration, Joiner framed the whole day as a thank-you to the community for keeping Sportsman's going all these years.
Quick answers
Is the new menu just for today?
No — today is the debut. The new menu launches with the centennial celebration and is the menu going forward.
Is it kid-friendly?
The dining room is, and the current owner has leaned hard into making Sportsman's a place families feel comfortable. As with anywhere with a bar, check with staff on age rules for specific areas, especially once karaoke gets going later in the evening.
Do I need a reservation?
It's a free, drop-in celebration. If you're bringing a big group for dinner, calling ahead at (360) 887-3141 is never a bad idea on a Friday.
Is Sportsman's really 100 years old?
The building became a restaurant in 1926, so 2026 marks the centennial. Before that, it was a Model T auto shop.
More from Meanwhile in Ridgefield
A hundred years is a long time for anything to last, let alone a pub on a small-town main street. Go eat something new, sing something embarrassing, and raise a glass to the next hundred. And if you try the new menu, tell us what you ordered — we want the full report.
