The Village Tap celebrates 50 years!
The Village Tap has been sharing old photos for the last couple of weeks in anticipation of their upcoming 50-year celebration. Photo courtesy of Heidi Stein.
by Colleen A. McKenney
August 1, 2026, the Village Tap will be celebrating its 50th year of operations in Manchester! For a blast from the past, check out the Tap’s Facebook page, “The Village Tap.” This week they have been sharing photographs taken of customers and staff from over the years, some of which are included here with this article. Do you recognize anyone?
What became the Village Tap was purchased in March of 1976 by Jack and Jeannette Stein. In the mid-1980s, following their divorce, Jeannette took over operations. She was the owner and operator until her passing in 2017. Two of her sons, Jack and Chris, assisted Jeannette through the early 2000s. Now, Jack and his wife, Heidi Stein, hold ownership, having purchased the Tap in 2017. Heidi suspects the Tap may now be the longest, or one of the longest, continuously run family-owned businesses left in Manchester. Heidi recalled fondly memories from her childhood of going to the location, prior to Jack and Jeannette’s purchase, with her father on Saturdays for lunch. She said that her favorite part of owning and running the Tap is the regular patrons, whom she described as family. She also appreciates the strong sense of kinship between patrons, staff, and the community. She said her staff was an integral part of their family, and they’ve always been fortunate to have really great help, including their manager of over 20 years, Emily Tucker.
She said the priority of the Tap, in the future and past, has always been to keep things affordable. She said they hadn’t raised beer prices for over 10 years before 2024. She stated that events have always been an important part of the Tap’s legacy. Their Roosterpalooza event following the Chicken Broil, their former Oktoberfest event, open mic nights, Wednesday night Acoustic Jams, and featured live performers have been a staple of Manchester and the Tap. They have also maintained close relationships, supporting each other with the Men’s Club, the City, and Manchester wrestling teams and club over the years.
To celebrate their milestone anniversary, on Saturday, August 1, 2026, they will be offering a $3 Busch Light special, a cash bar outside, and live music with a Grant Rife solo set. The party starts at 7pm. See you there and for many more years to come!
The Village Tap is celebrating 50 years on August 1. Photo courtesy of Colleen A. McKenney.
Old photos of The Village Tap courtesy of Heidi Stein:
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