CUMBERLAND, R.I. — From 1989 to 2011, the Friendly Tap on Mendon Road in Cumberland was owned by WWE Hall of Fame referee Tim White, who also acted as an agent for wrestling legend Andre the Giant. Under White's ownership, the bar was known for its lively and bar-smashing events staged for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).
Andre the Giant, whose real name was André René Roussimoff, frequently visited Friendly Tap with fellow wrestlers, contributing to the establishment's legendary status. WWE executive director Bruce Picard noted that the bar was rebuilt multiple times due to damage from these staged brawls.
After White sold the bar, Debra and Gerald Podgurski owned and operated the establishment from 2011 until April 2023, when they sold it, ending their 13-year tenure. The Podgurskis bid farewell in a letter published in The Valley Breeze.
Following a month-long renovation, the bar reopened on May 3, 2023, as The Tap. The new owners, veteran bartenders Charlie Greene and Patrick Johnson, transformed the space into an upscale Irish-American pub and music venue. The revamped bar features beer hall-style seating, church pews, a small stage with a house guitar, and a draft list including Guinness and Rhode Island brews.
The Tap now serves a fluid menu, initially offering items such as chicken wings, Guinness beef stew, and grilled cheese. The bar's walls will honor its wrestling history with photos provided by Tim White's family. The Tap is open from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays and from noon to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, closing on Tuesdays. The owners aim to foster a friendly atmosphere and leverage their New England music scene connections for entertainment.
The Tap is situated at 1225 Mendon Road, amid several restaurants and bars in a residential area, and is poised to become a local dining destination with upcoming developments in the neighborhood.
Carlos Muñoz can be reached at [email protected], and you can follow him on Twitter and Instagram.