The Riverfront Barbeque & Grille and The Gin Mill in Augusta will close its doors July 18 after 20 years in business.

Owner Patrick Quigg said he made the decision to close because he was ready to spend less time working and more time with his family. He sold the historic 122-year-old building, at 300 Water St., to new owners, but he did not comment on the future plans for the space.

Keith Luke, director of economic development for the city, said the space will reopen as a new restaurant but is likely to undergo remodeling first.

“(Quigg) has been a stalwart supporter of the downtown, going back at least two decades,” Luke said. “He’s done virtually everything we’ve asked of him as a contributing downtown business.”

Quigg originally opened the restaurant with his brothers in 2006 under the name Beale Street Barbeque, joining their two other locations in Bath and South Portland, which are both now closed. Quigg later changed the name to The Riverfront Barbeque & Grille in 2007.

“My brothers and I decided to be brothers and not business partners,” Quigg said about the rebrand.

The restaurant specialized in southern barbecue, while upstairs the Gin Mill served as a bar with live entertainment. After announcing the closure in a Facebook post, over 100 people took to the comments to express sadness at the loss of the business, the foods they will miss and memories of the restaurant.

“There have been dozens of marriage proposals, we’ve catered dozens of weddings, but our patrons have been most important to our survival,” Quigg said. “And watching
babies grow up and then have their own babies in my establishments, including this one, over my tenure has been an amazing gift.”

Luke said the downtown area has not been seeing long-term business vacancies and is excited that entrepreneurs are taking advantage of the opportunities as they arise.

“A huge thanks to all of the community,” Quigg said. “It’s been a pleasure … it will be a difficult transition, but a positive one for all.”