MILFORD – The town of Milford has a new watering hole, Clark’s Tavern, site of a boisterous grand opening Tuesday afternoon.

Proprietor Liesl Clark, of Lyndeborough, along with her kids Dylyn and Kyly, operate the tavern that was opened in the wake of her husband’s passing.

“The Granite Town Tavern was Rick’s hangout,” Clark said. “When it came up for sale, we discussed purchasing it at that time and decided against it. However, after his death, I thought it would be good way to honor his memory.”

The business, at 40 Nashua St., was acquired from the owners of the old Granite Town Tavern.

“I pretty much tried to keep everything that was really good here,” Clark said. “I kept on a lot of their inventory, and provide a wide variety for everybody’s taste.”

Clark said she was with her husband Richard since they were teenagers, having met at a Virginia boarding school. They had considered buying the Granite Town Tavern when it went up for sale last summer, but the romantics didn’t want to spend the time apart that would come with running a bar.

With her husband’s motorcycle accident in September, Clark figured opening a tavern would be a good way to support her family. The fact that it was her husband’s favorite bar would keep his spirit alive, she said.

“There’s a lot of things in the bar that represent either him or our relationship,” she said. Clark pointed around the bar at various relics – a wooden sign from her husband’s business, a hard hat. Richard Clark was a builder, having founded Clark Craftsman Homes in Wilton. The walls of the bar are also adorned with Clark’s photography.

Clark has a tattoo of her family crest, designed by her husband, with letters in the center showing the initials of her children, both of whom work at the bar. A wall bears the same insignia, in addition to the coasters.

“It’s kind of a continuation of the decorum that’s in my house; maybe that’s why it feels homey to me.”

The tavern provides a calm atmosphere to partier and diner alike, with a fat selection of beers on tap and an extended menu.

“This is an intimate pub, English or Irish type setting, with tavern fare and full liquor,” Clark said.

Clark, a vegetarian, hopes to introduce some non-meaty fare into her kitchen’s repertoire. She’s teamed up with the Wilton House of Pizza, as well as the Good Leaf, a Milford bakery, which will provide an endless stream of chocolate cakes. Clark’s Tavern will also offer traditional fare, with fries, burgers, sandwiches, wings and salads among other things.

“I think especially at night, the way this is lit, it’s just super intimate and comfortable,” Clark said. “There’s an energy here that I personally haven’t felt anywhere in town. It’s kind of hard to describe an energy without actually experiencing it, but it feels home.”

Clark wants to appeal to a wider demographic than the one that frequented the Granite Town Tavern. While not abandoning the beer and wine offerings of her predecessor, new dimensions such as live music and a full bar will entice newcomers to the establishment, she said. Every Monday night will feature live jazz. Wednesday nights, Gary Lopez will host an open mic, and patrons can expect music every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Clark said she is also dedicated to supporting local musicians, including young artists.

Brenden Clark is Liesl’s brother-in-law. He moved out to Sacramento some years ago but returned to help Liesl open up the Clark Tavern. He spoke fondly of his brother Richard.

“I think everybody takes a lot from him as far as what he’s accomplished in his life,” he said, “as far as establishing not only himself, but his family in this area.”

Brenden Clark said he’d come to the Granite Town Tavern when his brother passed last September. “Since Liesl’s taken it over – we’ve followed it on Facebook – seeing the pictures of everybody painting and helping out – then we walked in and saw the finished product, and we were just blown away.”

Liesl Clark also spoke lovingly of her husband with large, sad eyes.

“He was very well loved by his community and his friends. Extremely hard working. Everything he did, he did for his family. Passionate about his building, his craftsmanship. .?.?. He was amazing.”