Pickett's Village Bar on Millburn Avenue in Maplewood has new owners, and they're keeping the name, the sign, and the neighborhood feel that regulars have come to expect. Erica Hernandez and Hugh Preece completed the purchase of the building and business this week, with plans to reopen in a few weeks.
According to The Village Green, Hernandez, described as a seasoned chef and operator, will lead the kitchen, with longtime restaurateur Preece as her partner. The two plan to make Pickett's a neighborhood Italian American bar with handcrafted food, an expanded wine program and the same warm welcome regulars know. Notably, the name will not change.
The sale followed a Maplewood Alcoholic Beverage Control Board meeting on September 23, 2026, where the board approved the liquor license transfer. The report notes the transfer included an expansion of the licensed premises to include the second floor, opening up new space at the Millburn Avenue address for the incoming owners.
Board Members Eager For Reopening
Board members at the meeting appeared eager to see the bar back in business. Malia Herman called it an exciting weekend, while Jane Collins-Colding asked when Pickett's would reopen for drinks, per the same account. Rohit Gera, who represents Seven Spirits Inc., said Pickett's will hopefully reopen in a couple of weeks.
Hernandez brings more than 30 years of hospitality experience to the venture. She is a graduate of the San Juan School of Hospitality, has worked at Hotel El Convento in Old San Juan, and was most recently executive chef at Salt Creek. The report also notes she is known as the Charcuterie Lady.
Preece has more than four decades as a restaurateur and hospitality specialist. The article's account describes him as an Italian Wine Ambassador, a WSET-certified wine educator, and an author, and he will lead the wine program at Pickett's.
Wine List, Tastings And Dinners Planned
Plans include a wine list designed to broaden guests' palates, wine education classes, guided tastings and wine dinners, the outlet reports. The wine dinners are planned to pair with dishes from the kitchen, tying the expanded bottle list directly to Hernandez's Italian American menu.
Pickett's carries the name of founding partner Jim Pickett, who passed away in 2018 before he could see his vision come to life. Heidi Hovland, Jim Pickett's wife and a founding partner, said Erica and Hugh share Pickett's spirit and have the experience to build on it. The original partners — Hovland, Beth Sasfai, Doug Sasfai, Brinton Brosius and Ashlee Anthony — transferred the bar to Hernandez and Preece.
Pickett's Village Bar is located at 2208 Millburn Ave. in Maplewood, according to the bar's website, which currently lists the business as open six days a week ahead of the transition to new ownership. Menu and wine event updates are expected to be posted at the bar's website and on its Instagram account as the reopening date approaches.
