“You’re Only A Stranger Once” Is Shawn’s Irish Tavern Motto
BY KAREN BERGER — MIRROR REPORTER
“You’re only a stranger once” has been the motto since John and Jeff Lark purchased the original Shawn’s Irish Tavern on Heather-downs Boulevard in Toledo eight years ago.
Within days of its opening last month, the newest Shawn’s, at 105 S. Third St. in Waterville, was already living up to that motto, as friends visited among tables and the Larks greeted new customers.
After gutting the interior of what was previously home to Keeter’s and JoJo’s Pizzeria, the Larks essentially duplicated their successful Toledo location, with a u-shaped bar, wood flooring, high-top tables and booths.
“We fill a niche. We’re not a chain but we’re bigger than a corner bar,” Jeff said, joking that he and John are older than their target market – ages 30 to 50.
The brothers purchased the original Shawn’s, which was founded in 1968, because like everyone else, they liked to be among friends and enjoy a cold beer and a good sandwich.
After two years of working there part-time, Jeff left his job at 7-Up, where he’d worked for 30 years, to pursue full-time restaurant work at Shawn’s. John is president of Martin/Lark Insurance Agency in Toledo and works at the tavern during his off time.
Their father Lester Lark operated Don’s Drive-Ins around Toledo until the mid 1980s. The Lark sons helped out in the restaurants.
“I cleaned johns,” jokes John, adding that his mother Ethel was a stickler about clean restrooms. “Go check out the ladies’ room. We’ve had customers at our Heatherdowns store tell us we have the cleanest restrooms of any bar in town.”
Upon hearing about the vacated building in Waterville, they saw an opportunity to expand in an area that isn’t as packed with restaurants as Perrysburg or Toledo, they said.
“We’ve continued to grow even in the midst of a soft economy. People don’t want to go out less. They still want value,” Jeff said. “
The three chefs prepare pub fare including sandwiches like the Danny Boy, Texas Chicken Sandwich, Shawn’s Club and chicken wrap. Oven-baked ciabatta in several varieties, as well as specialty pizzas, appetizers and salads provide a well-rounded selection.
Kids eat free on Tuesdays, Wednesday is $1.00 taco night and on Mondays a pizza is $6.00. Thursday is steak day, with a steak sandwich for lunch and a 12-ounce ribeye for dinner, and Friday is fish day.
The bar has 12 beers on tap, including Bass and Guinness, although the brothers admit that they’re German, not Irish.
From the bar or relaxing in a booth, customers can enjoy 13 flat-screen TVs that feature ESPN sports. Heatherdowns regulars Dave Carpenter and Johnny Rodriguez will make stops in Waterville as well.
Ryan Kahler, the former assistant manager at Heatherdowns, will take over as manager. About 26 staff members have been hired.
Shawn’s is open from 11:30 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. weekdays and 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, although times may change depending upon the crowd, since the Larks have a license to stay open until 2:00 a.m.
For information, visit www.shawnsirishtavern.com.
BUSINESS REPORT