Porky’s Bar under new management

Porky’s Beach Bar and Grill is now owned by businessman and Saipan Tribune columnist Bruce Bateman.

Bateman said in an interview Tuesday he will keep the name Porky’s for name recall, but will gradually introduce changes to the lounge bar.

He decided to acquire the business despite the current economic hardship “because it is an exciting business.” He also believes that Porky’s is unique compared with other bars on island.

“There’s a need on island for a place that is a lounge where you can play pool, darts, and find a quiet place to chat with friends,” said Bateman.

He said Porky’s is designed to be an upscale lounge; it will offer live music but “at a tasteful volume.”

“You can talk with your friends. You don’t have to shout while talking. We want to offer that kind of place,” he said.

Bateman said he plans to convert a private room at Porky’s into a Chamorro cultural room, something that showcases the CNMI pre-colonial era.

He said he is now talking with the CNMI History and Culture Museum on the matter.

“I want to develop it into an authentic pre-Spanish room,” he said.

He said that handcrafted souvenir items will be available for sale at the bar.

“I’m not referring to souvenir items you will find in the stores outside. We will offer different items, handcrafted items,” he said.

Bateman said Porky’s Bar features “interesting and top quality talents” who will provide live music at the lounge bar.

He said Porky’s will feature all kinds of music nightly such as jazz, rhythm and blues, and pop hits.

“We’ll have jazz night, R&B night. It’s gonna be eclectic,” he said.

Probably a unique advantage of Porky’s over competitors is its ability to regularly offer “real fresh” sashimi.

Bateman, who owns a boat, said he gets fresh tuna directly from a friend, a commercial fisherman who regularly goes to the Northern Islands.

“It’s ocean fish. It’s fresh ocean fish that we get on the day it’s caught,” he said.

Porky’s serves grilled-style food, homemade hamburgers, briskets, fries, and chicken wings.

Very soon, Bateman said that Porky’s will have an outdoor charcoal barbecue station.

“We will do quality steaks there. We serve simple but quality food,” he said.

Bateman originally comes from Florida but spent most of his adult life in Arizona. He first came to Saipan in the mid-’90s for business. He had been coming back and forth since then until two years ago when he decided to finally settle on the island.

“I used to live on an island in Florida. I lived for many years in the Arizona desert. Now I’m back on the island,” he said.

Bateman is married to Olive Reyes, whom he met on Saipan during his business trips years back.

“I love the eclectic culture here. I love all the Asian culture and dining here, but she [Olive] is the reason why I moved here,” he said.

The couple has one child.

Porky’s is open from 5pm to 12 midnight, from Monday to Thursday and 5pm to 2am on Fridays and Saturdays.

Porky’s is located at the back of Lollipops Store and across McDonald’s on Beach Road, Garapan.