Picatinny Lodge grand opening revitalizes former Bucky’s venue

PICATINNY ARSENAL, N.J. – Picatinny Arsenal’s Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Directorate celebrated the grand opening of The Picatinny Lodge… PICATINNY ARSENAL, N.J. – Picatinny Arsenal’s Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Directorate celebrated the grand opening of The Picatinny Lodge on Oct. 28, marking the return of a dedicated gathering space designed to strengthen community, camaraderie and quality-of-life opportunities for Arsenal residents, employees, and their guests. Located in the space formerly known as Bucky’s, The Picatinny Lodge has been reimagined as a welcoming venue for social events, networking, informal gatherings and private functions. The facility originally opened in 2008 as Bucky’s, an initiative intended to provide a lunchtime eatery and after-work gathering place for the Picatinny community.

Although the venue operated for approximately 10 years and hosted a variety of entertainment concepts, participation did not reach the level needed to sustain operations. Bucky’s closed in fiscal year 2019. “The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and increased remote-work practices left the facility largely unused for the next several years,” said Andrew Ciccolella, Picatinny’s FMWR Director. In 2026, following the arrival of Picatinny Arsenal’s new commanding general who provided a vision for the space, FMWR began planning for the renovation and reopening of the facility in support of the command’s priority to create a new community gathering place and improve