BUCKFIELD – A former Twin Cities man has purchased the Buckfield Inn and has opened the dining room to the public for dinner and Sunday brunch.

Russell Clark bought the rustic 1840s inn on Aug. 18 and opened less than a week later, offering four rooms for overnight guests and full-course, professionally prepared meals.

Clark was born in Lewiston and lived in Auburn, attending Edward Little High School. He received a business degree from New Hampshire College in Manchester, N.H. He began his career working in the hotel and restaurant business, before transitioning to teaching about the industry. He has taught at New Hampshire College’s Culinary Institute, at Hesser College in Manchester, N.H., and for the last 11 years taught food service courses in Stroudsburg, Penn.

Earlier this year, deaths in the family brought Clark back to the Buckfield area, where a sister now resides. She invited him to breakfast at the Buckfield Inn. When he learned the inn was for sale, he started investigating a purchase.

Part of that advance work included acquiring a liquor license for the inn. He got enough signatures on a petition to take it to the town for a vote; it was approved overwhelmingly. It was the first full liquor license issued in Buckfield for on-premise consumption.

Clark officially reopened the inn on Aug. 22 for guests and diners.

Dinner is served Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., and a Sunday brunch goes from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The inn features two dining areas and a lounge area, allowing as many as 40 diners to relax and enjoy the restored inn.

Thursday night is Pasta Night at the inn, featuring an all-you-can-eat pasta selection. Friday and Saturday nights offer full menus.

Clark is also offering a pre-theater menu aimed at patrons of the Oddfellow Theatre, which is within walking distance of the inn. The all-inclusive four-course meal allows diners to return to the inn after the show for dessert and coffee.

The desserts are all made in-house, as is Clark’s special focaccia bread.

The Inn is also available for small private functions by reservations. For more information and reservations, call 336-2220.