Bryan Watson played three seasons with the Washington Capitals. He died July 8 at the age of 78. Photo contributed
To anyone who knew him, Bryan Watson was larger than life. The gritty National Hockey League defenseman turned Alexandria Sports Bar owner was a fixture in Old Town, where he made his home following his retirement as a player from professional sports in 1979.
“He was one of the last of the ‘King Street Mafia,’” said Old Town Business Association representative Charlotte Hall referring to a group of early restaurateurs who took a chance on the 100 block of King Street in the early 1980s. “Gordon King with Bullfeathers, Mr. Ray with the Fish Market. Now only Ralph Davis and Franco Landini are still with us, but even though they are not actively involved on a daily basis, I think back to how they all transformed that part of the city.”
Watson opened Bugsy’s Pizza Restaurant and Sports Bar in 1983, hanging up his skates for a second time in 2013 when he sold the business to longtime employee Bartolome Paz to spend more time with his family and enjoy his home on the Eastern Shore.
On July 8, Watson died at his St. Michaels retreat at the age of 78. The cause of death was listed as pneumonia but Watson had also battled lung cancer in recent years.
Born Nov. 14, 1942, in Bancroft, Ontario, Bryan Joseph Watson began playing organized hockey at the age of 13 in Peterborough, Ontario. He played junior hockey with the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey Association from 1960 to 1963 under the skillful eye of NHL coaching legend Scotty Bowman.
In 1963, he joined the National Hockey League as a 21-year-old rookie with the Montreal Canadiens, who won the Stanley Cup the following season. Standing just 5’9” and weighing 175 pounds, Watson was known for his aggressive play, earning him the nickname “Bugsy” as one of the most penalized players in the history of the league.
Watson’s career spanned several NHL teams, including the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins, before landing with the Washington Capitals in 1976. After three years with the Caps and a brief stint coaching a young Wayne Gretzky and the Edmonton Oilers in 1980, his 17-year NHL career came to an end.
But his passion for the sport continued locally as a player with Mount Vernon’s Over-40 league and as a coach with Special Olympics. He was honored by the organization with a humanitarian award in 1978.
“Over the years I’ve had so much fun,” Watson said as he turned over the keys to Bugsy’s in 2013. “I had way too much fun playing hockey. And then with Bugsy’s, I’ve been blessed to have two careers that were just too much fun.”
Tributes to Watson poured in from around the country, none more so than from those he touched locally.
“Before the days of ‘any hockey game, any time you wanted,’ there was Bugsy's with a satellite feed,” said Robert Fobian in a social media post. “Bryan always greeted me and my crew personally, just like he did everyone else. He made time for a few hockey stories and made you feel like you were the most important person in the joint. But he wasn't just an ambassador -- he was never above bussing a table, sweeping the floor, serving, cooking. When he played, he gave his team everything he had. He gave Bugsy's the same. What a tremendous loss.”
Watson and his wife Lindy were regular fixtures at the restaurant, generously supporting local nonprofits and youth organizations.
“Bryan never turned away anyone asking for a freebie,” Hall added. “If someone needed a donation, he was there to give it to them. He was especially generous with St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes, where his children attended school. He truly was a generous soul.”
Watson’s NHL career stats include 877 games and 2,214 career penalty minutes, leading to the sports bar’s original name of The Penalty Box, which became a hang out for some of D.C.’s professional athletes, including Russ Grimm and Joe Jacoby. The name was changed to Bugsy’s in 1998 when Watson ended his original partnership with Armand’s pizza.
When Watson sold the iconic restaurant in 2013, his wife said it was time to turn over the reins.
“After 30 years, this was a good time to get out,” Lindy Watson said at the time. “Being in business with your spouse wouldn’t work for all marriages but for Bryan and me, it has been the greatest thing we have ever done.”
Survivors include his wife of 53 years, the former Lindy Wilson; their two children, Stephen Watson, who owns a restaurant in New Orleans, and Lisa Watson of Los Angeles; a sister; a brother; and two grandsons. A celebration of life is planned for October.
“Bryan truly made his mark here with Bugsy’s,” Hall said. “For many, it will always be known as the Penalty Box. It’s sad. He was one of the pioneers. We have lost another heart and soul of 100 King.”