Landmark Peabody pub reopens after fire
Staff writer
After 16 months of rebuilding, Coneburg Grill and Pub reopened Thursday, returning a longtime Peabody restaurant destroyed by fire in late 2024.
The blaze was ruled an accidental kitchen fire, owner Lindsey Marshall said.
Getting back open proved more difficult than expected.
“Getting everything buttoned up so that we could finally reopen it takes a lot more patience and hard work than anybody would expect,” Marshall said.
Insurance and rebuilding hurdles added to the challenge, particularly when replacing equipment. This makes Marshall recommend business owners carry full replacement coverage.
“Always get the highest amount that you possibly can, because it’ll be worth it in the end,” she said.
Finances required careful planning during the rebuild, Marshall said.
“I had to budget very, very carefully on where money went,” she said.
Despite delays, early work inside the building signaled progress.
“I was realizing that this was actually going to happen,” she said. “It was no longer just a dream.”
The rebuilt space keeps its original character while adding updates, including an open ceiling and a kitchen expanded to roughly three times its previous size.
The restaurant also now has a commercial dishwasher.
“It’s the first time since 1978 our dishwasher is not two hands,” she said.
Community support helped make the reopening possible, with donated equipment, labor and fundraising.
“The kitchen hood was donated, the dishwasher is donated, a lot of the materials for the bar were donated,” Marshall said.
That support underscored the restaurant’s role in Peabody, she said.
“This has been a completely eye-opening experience, seeing how much people really cared about it,” Marshall said.
Coneburg Bar and Pub has reopened with limited hours and a small staff. The hours for the time being are 2 to 10 p.m. Thursday, 2 p.m. to midnight Friday, noon to midnight Saturday, and 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. The kitchen closes at 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Potential customers are being urged to call ahead at (620) 983-2010 as the restaurant works back toward a full schedule.