News, Skien | Quits as general manager at the well-known pub – starts his own pub

After five years as a daily worker for the Lundetangen pub, Porsgrundman Tommy André Johnsen (45) has become a familiar face to many in Skien.

In the last two years, he has also been central to the organization of the festival “Sommerfesten” at Ibsenhuset, also organized by Lundetangen with owner Steffen Steffensen at the helm.

Now Johnsen has resigned from his position at the well-known pub. However, he will work at Lundetangen until June, before it is over.

– I do not comment on matters that have to do with my employees, is the only thing Lundetangen owner Steffensen says about the matter.

According to what TA learns, there should already be a new general manager ready to take over for Johnsen.

Opening a new pub

The reason why Johnsen is leaving is that he will run and own his own pub in Skien. Specifically at Tømmerkaia.

There he will rent premises from Steinar Moe, who is behind the gigantic development of apartments and business premises in the new district.

The pub on Tømmerkaia will be next door to the cafeteria, “Lille Ludvig”, which will be opened in the autumn by the couple Lars Ludvig Jacobsen and Julie Solli.

TA has been in contact with Tommy André Johnsen. Nor will he comment on the job change and the plans for a new pub at the present time.

Managing director of Steinar Moe Eiendom AS, Heidi Sjerve, confirms that there will be a new pub on Tømmerkaia. She says it is up to the future pub owner to comment on the plans.

More places to eat

It will be a pub with all rights, which will also show football matches from the top level in England, the Premier League. The pub will be located directly below the car park and Skien upper secondary school.

There are already several restaurants in the lower part of Tømmerkaia. Rune Tollefsjord opened the wine bar, “Nedenom og hjem”, two years ago. Afterwards, the cafe Blackbird and the restaurant Dattebayo opened in the same area.

350 apartments

According to Steinar Moe, there is great demand for the 51 new apartments that are now under construction.

– We have a waiting list of more than 150 people and families who want to enter into tenancy agreements, Steinar Moe recently stated in a loan application to Husbanken.

The very last development will be building 9, which is scheduled to start in the autumn of 2025.

– Completed development in 2026, we will, over 10 years, have built 350 apartments, several catering establishments, service premises and large park areas on the water’s edge in the area that was previously closed to the city’s population, writes Moe in the loan application, where he is asking for 272 million.