What opened in 2023 - Licking Countians embraced new restaurants, bars
Licking Countians love their restaurants. They may shed a tear when a favorite one closes, but they will cheer and be ready to order when a new one opens.
In 2023, several new restaurants opened, delighting the palates of local residents who have been anxious to get out of the house ever since COVID-19 waned.
The new restaurants and bars include Al’s Chicken Lab,Bojangles, Buckeye Axe Throwing, Earthworks Café, Harvest Pizza, Hereinafter Cocktail Tavern, Mariposa, Pocho’s Tequila and Cocina, Thiago’s Italian Kitchen and Bar, West Church Social and Whit’s Frozen Custard of Newark.
Bummies, closed since a fire destroyed its Cedar Street location, reopened in the former Dan’s Family Pizza location on West Main Street.
Thiago’s Italian Kitchen & Bar/Pappy's
Thiago’s Italian Kitchen & Bar replaced Pappy’s on Hebron Road in Heath with a quick turnaround.
The final day for Pappy’s came on Dec. 17, ending more than 12 years in business. Thiago’s opened nine days later, on the day after Christmas, with many of Pappy’s employees remaining to work for the new business.
Edgar Alcauter, who owns the restaurant with his father, Liborio Alcauter, said their plans have been an evolution.
“We didn’t plan to open this quick, but a lot of employees work there and they depend on their jobs and it’s Christmas,” Alcauter said. “We kept most of the employees. We had to rush a lot of things.”
Alcauter asks the public to be patient, as not all the kinks have been worked out. In addition to keeping many of the Pappy’s employees, Thiago’s also retained some of the most popular items from Pappy’s menu. Everything they do is fresh, he said.
The Heath location is the second for Thiago’s, which also operates in New Lexington. Alcauter’s family has been in the grocery and restaurant business in the Columbus area for more than 20 years. He said Heath wasn't in their plans, but his Realtor asked him to look at the Pappy's location.
“At first, we told her we weren’t interested," he said. "She convinced us to take a look. We fell in love with the area. You can find everything you need on this street. We’re excited to be here. We just want to make the community happy and be part of the community.”
The closing of Pappy’s ends 16 years of Eric Mason operating a restaurant at 1122 Hebron Road. Before Pappy’s, Mason owned Skyline Chili at the same location.
“It was time. I have kids involved in sports and ever since COVID, the business has been tough. It’s tough getting employees. The expenses have gone through the roof and I’m just tired. It was a great run. I want to thank the community for all their support. It’s time for somebody to take it to the next level.”
Mason still owns his Catering By The Grill business, which will cater for weddings, corporate events and reunions. To reach Catering By The Grill, call 614-206-2270.
Here are some of the other restaurants that opened their doors in 2023.
Buckeye Axe Throwing
General Manager Nicole Street describes the Newark business as a “family fun center with a customized bar experience.”
The business, located at 46 W. Main St., on the corner of West Main and Fourth streets, opened in early October. It provides six customized lanes, with six throwers permitted per lane aiming at a painted target on wooden blocks recessed into the wall. A projector displays nine different game on the board, with a new trial game every week.
Drinks are served, but food is not. Anyone at least age 13 can throw. There is a small game room upstairs, where arcade games are available for any age.
The hours are: Reservations only Monday through Wednesday; 5-11 Thursday; 5-12 Friday; 12-12 Saturday; and 12-7 Sunday.
Mariposa
Barrel & Boar closed its downtown Newark restaurant in January, ending almost seven years in business at 5 N. Third St., but Mariposa opened in its place this fall.
Owners Alex and Stephanie Athan write on the restaurant’s website that it "offers authentic Mexican flavors in a festive atmosphere. Though our roots will always be on The Square in downtown Newark, we pride ourselves on bringing big-city dining concepts and experiences to our local community."
Crumbl Cookies
Crumbl Cookies, a popular national bakery chain, opened its first Licking County location in February at 963C Hebron Road in the Cross Creek Shopping Center.
Hereinafter Cocktail Tavern
After spending years working in chic, elegant restaurants in Washington D.C. and New York City, Granville High School graduate Ben Long opened Hereinafter Cocktail Tavern on North Bank Road in Buckeye Lake.
The drink menu includes classic drinks, such as Manhattans, martinis and old fashioneds. But there are also twists to offer customers something new. Hereinafter's menu also features wine from across the globe. Besides American wines from Oregon and California, the tavern also imports bottles from South Africa, Germany, Austria, Portugal, Spain, Italy and even Australia.
The food menu is inspired by Cajun and southern-style food with dishes such as scallops with goat cheese, smashed potatoes, shrimp po' boy sandwiches, jambalaya, and pork chops.
Harvest Pizza
Columbus-based Harvest Pizzeria opened its fifth location at 454 S. Main St. in Granville in mid-February. Just like the other Harvest locations, the Granville restaurant sources ingredients locally, including from Alexandria's Sunbeam Family Farm and Granville's own Black Radish Creamery.
Pocho's Tequila and Cocina
Pocho's Tequila and Cocina opened this fall at 128 E. Broadway in Granville. Owner and operator Ramon Reyes said in August he wanted Pocho's to be a place where people can try new meals that they won't find in most other Mexican restaurants.
Al's Chicken Lab
Alaa Babieh and his wife, Farah Hussein, opened Al's Chicken Lab in the former Pizza Hut building on North 21st Street on May 22. They also operate Skorpios Gyros downtown on West Main Street.
Pizza Hut closed its north Newark restaurant, at 1825 North 21st St., in 2018. It was the place Babieh first ate pizza in the United States after coming here from Jordan in 2000. His brother, Omar, is also here, operating Baba's Grill on South Park Place downtown.
Bojangles
Bojangles had a packed parking lot and a long line at the drive-through on its opening day, Nov. 30. The southeastern U.S. regional chain famous for its chicken and biscuits opened its third Ohio restaurant and first in Licking County at 853 S. 30th St., Heath.
The franchise owner is Jeff Rigsby, an Ohio native who lives in South Carolina and owns 120 Bojangles restaurants. He opened a restaurant in west Columbus a couple months ago. Another franchise owner operates a Bojangles in Canton.
West Church Social
Owners Brian Hoy and Matt Maynard hope they can repeat the success that Bunky’s and The End Zone had a generation ago at the same location, 1650 W. Church St., in the Dugway Center in west Newark, next to Ohio 16.
They recently opened the bar, arcade and entertainment venue which specializes in craft beer, with 16 to 20 taps and eight domestic beers. It’s also a music venue, which will have national acts, live local bands and DJs. There are 32 big-screen TVs, arcade games, pool tables, axe-throwing, beer pong and a private speakeasy.
740-973-4539
Twitter: @kmallett1958
mdevito@gannett.com
740-607-2175
Twitter: @MariaDeVito13
This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Licking County embraced new restaurants 2023 Thiago, Mariposa, Pocho's
