Portsmouth Restaurant Closes One of Its Eateries

On Friday afternoon Aaron Jones was busy loading up his pick up truck with items from his now closed Mojo's BBQ restaurant in Kittery's Foreside.

He expanded into Kittery about a year ago and even though business there was good, he decided it would be better if he focused all of his attention on his main Portsmouth Mojo's BBQ Grill and Tavern restaurant and The Exchange cocktail lounge.

Jones said he made this decision even though the Memorial Bridge is just three months away from opening, a development that would bring even more customers to downtown Kittery businesses. Jones said he knows what he is giving up, but he still feels good about his decision to sell the business to some of his friends who plan to open a new restaurant and bar called Rudder's Public House.

He said the new eatery will feature a horseshoe bar and a lot of the comfort food fare he offered such as burgers, steaks and even some homemade meat loaf. The new owners will benefits from many of the improvements he made to create the Mojo's eatery.

But Jones said he has no regrets about closing the Mojo's in Kittery because "I would be competing with myself" if he maintained two restaurants with the same name and fare in two different communities.

According to the sign in the front window, Saturday, March 30 is when the Kittery Mojo's will close. He could not say when the new Rudder's Public House will open.