Buddy T’s Grill & Sports Bar — whose name pays tribute to the late Dartmouth football coach Buddy Teevens ’79 — opened at 7 Lebanon St. on Jan. 14. The restaurant replaces Dunk’s Sports Grill, which occupied the location for four years and closed on Sept. 28, 2025.
Owner Jennifer Packard, who also owns Molly’s Restaurant and Bar, said Buddy T’s will be more “food-forward” than Dunk’s. The sports bar features a “scratch kitchen” led by longtime Molly’s chef Ryan O’Day, and the menu features items such as the chicken parm tortellini, fish and chips, banh mi sliders and more.
“We want people to think of it as a place to go have dinner,” Packard said. “[We’re] trying to elevate what would traditionally be known as a sports bar menu.”
Packard envisions the sports bar “[crossing] the bridge between the community and the College.” This vision, she said, was inspired by Teevens, who was involved in “so much” of the community and sports outside of Dartmouth.
Teevens would regularly bring players and recruits to Molly’s and was “super respectful” and “very welcoming” to staff, Packard said.
“He took care of my team,” Packard said. “I’m gonna take care of this team.”
Teevens was Dartmouth’s all-time winningest coach, a five-time Ivy League champion and a national innovator in football safety. Hanover resident Jennifer Pope, who was dining at the restaurant with her family, called the tribute to Teevens “really important.”
“He was an incredible part of the history of Dartmouth football,” Pope said. “To be able to celebrate him in a local restaurant is awesome.”
Pope said her family used to frequent Dunk’s and that it was a “nice option in town.” However, she added that is excited about the new managers and the Dartmouth memorabilia in Buddy T’s.
Pope added that she thinks the opening of Buddy T’s a “great opportunity in town” if the restaurant can employ locals.
Buddy T’s staff are a “tight-knit” group, most of whom had worked together at Molly’s, according to server and bartender Sam Maynes, who started at Molly’s in September.
“I’ve worked with the previous ownership and I much enjoyed working for them,” Maynes shared. “I like the idea of being a part of getting something off the ground.”
Bartender Lindsay Pearson, who joined the staff in December, said the staff culture was “like a little family.” She added that she looks forward to more diners visiting the restaurant and “making connections” with customers.
“It really caters to Dartmouth students and the amount of sports culture around Hanover,” Pearson said. “It’s only going to get busier and busier. Once we get the full football season next year, that’ll be exciting.”
Packard said the sports bar will “make sure” to show Dartmouth games on T.V.s and has also reached out to local high school coaches so that their games are shown when televised.
“I’m really looking forward to … seeing players that played for [Teevens] come back and get to see some of the stuff we’ve put in here,” Packard said. “I’m also really looking forward to seeing how the local high school sports can kind of turn this into their home.”
