As The Who said, meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

Dan Barkwell is now sole owner of the popular Moose Delaney’s sports bar in Huntsville. Barkwell has been co-owner of the business with partner Archie Kosynski for the past year. But Kosynski recently decided it was time to retire and sold his share of the company to Barkwell.

The ‘new’ owner knows every aspect of running Moose Delaney’s and how to do it successfully. Over his 12-year career at the restaurant, Barkwell has worked in the kitchen, tended bar and been general manager as well as co-owner.

“I basically ran the company for about the last eight years with help from my wonderful staff and from Archie,” said Barkwell, who saw the restaurant grow from 2,000 sq. ft. to 3,000 sq. ft. plus an outdoor patio over the last decade. “During the last few years, I basically dealt with everything in the business and made decisions. Over the last year, I ran the operation 100 percent with Archie being my partner, but not really doing much in the company.”

Barkwell has no plans to make any major changes to Moose Delaney’s fare, pool tables or seating areas, preferring not to interfere with an operation with a large regular clientele who like things as they are now.

“We just tweak things every year a little with something new,” he explains.

“One year we did tear the interior apart and paint it, and added new tables, booths and chairs, but we kept the same interior design. This year, we are tweaking the menu, not changing it too much, but just giving it a new look.”

The menu’s new items will include a few pasta dishes to join the ones already offered, some different appetizers including salad, and a brand new chicken dinner to tempt all the customers who come in for the Moose’s famous chicken wings.

Customers also come in for the other favourite item at the Moose - beer. Popular brands, like Bud Light, that are ordered daily by regulars will always be available.

Barkwell says he makes decisions about what is served according to the wishes of his loyal local customers who enable the business to run steadily through every season.

“I run the business 12 months a year,” said Barkwell.

“I’m not a waterfront place. I’m not a patio place. I cater to my locals, and if a tourist walks through the door, it’s a bonus. If he doesn’t, I’m not worried about it. I worry about taking care of my town and the surrounding area. We’ve done that for 12 years, and that’s how it works.”

Proof that this type of business outlook works can be seen in Moose Delaney’s bottom line. July sales were good, but October sales were even better according to Barkwell.

“A lot of places slow down in the fall, and their staff have time to come out and have a good time at the local watering hole,” he explained.