Crease in Walpole Now Open

Alan Lightfoot has always had a love of hockey, and he’s opened the Crease in Walpole to help share that love with the town.

“We’re really big hockey fans here,” he said. “I was born here but my parents are Canadian, and I always followed the late 60s early 70s Bruins.”

Lightfoot bought the place for the Crease a few months ago and has been getting it ready ever since. He said he wanted to have it open during the Bruins bout with Chicago this year, but it just wasn’t to be.

Lightfoot himself was and still is a general contractor in the town. He said the location is perfect for him, as he lives about a half mile from the restaurant.

“The opportunity came up and I took it,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to have a little bar.”

Lightfoot said his vision for the Crease was a sports bar in Jamaica Plain Boston where he used to live.

“It was one of the original sports bars around during the Celtics years,” he said, referring to the intense rivalry between the Celtics and Lakers in the 80s. “The place would be pack and everybody knew each other. That’s what I want to bring here.”

Lightfoot said he wants to take it nice and slow, since they only opened July 3. He said the menu creation process right now is touch and go.

“We’re taking our time, putting stuff out one by one,” he said. “We’re trying to get it exactly right. We hope to add breakfast and brunch to the menu soon. At some point we’re going to have karaoke and trivia; maybe even an open mic night.”

Lightfoot said he wants the Crease to be a destination for playoff games in all sports. Whether the Red Sox, Bruins, Celtics or Patriots, he wants to have all screens in the bar dedicated to the games.

“We’ll have it on all TVs with the volume on and shut the music off,” he said.

Lightfoot said the business is already starting to give a steady flow. He said he’s already got a few regulars who come in nearly every day.

“I feel good about it we’re getting busier everyday,” he said.

Lightfoot’s manager Michael Sullivan agreed, and said it’s a great feeling to be there at the stat of the restaurant.

“It’s picking up everyday,” he said. “This is the first time I’ve helped start up and it’s great being in a place in the beginning and watch it grow.”

Lightfoot said he is getting ready to sponsor a women’s fun league hockey team in Walpole.

The Crease is located at 944 Main St. and is open 8 a.m. to 1 a.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Sundays.