'It's a beautiful property': Carroll resident purchases Boathouse Tavern

Leonard L. Hayhurst, Coshocton Tribune
·2 min read

COSHOCTON — A real estate investor from Lancaster didn't have any intentions on buying a restaurant when he drove up on his motorcycle to the Boathouse Tavern, but he knows a good deal when he sees one.

Jeffrey Peters, who now lives in Carroll, took over the eatery along the Muskingum River at 51 Pine St. a few weeks ago from owners Dave and Sharon Tatro, who were looking to retire. They opened the Boathouse in the summer of 2021. The building formerly housed Roberta's Catering and the Riverfront Lounge.

"This was three to four acres right on the river. It's a beautiful property. The previous owners did a fabulous job on the renovation. The place is standing tall and there's also a great staff here," Peters said on what interested him.

Jeffrey Peters of Carroll is the new owner of the Boathouse Tavern along the Muskingum River. He doesn't plan to change much to start. He was interested in buying the eatery from Dave and Sharon Tatro because of it's location, aesthetic, good staff and strong community support.
Jeffrey Peters of Carroll is the new owner of the Boathouse Tavern along the Muskingum River. He doesn't plan to change much to start. He was interested in buying the eatery from Dave and Sharon Tatro because of it's location, aesthetic, good staff and strong community support.

The restaurant has the aesthetic of a boathouse on a lake and there's even a dock for boats to tie to. There's also an outdoor stage for acts and a patio. The upper level seats about 100 and the bottom level is an event space with a bar for parties. The menu is American traditional — the Boathouse is known for its smashburgers and meatloaf tower.

They have 27 employees and are looking to hire more. Peters gives credit to dining room manager Rick Van Sickle and kitchen manager Robert Wilson for keeping things running smoothly.

"It was a big decisioning factor in buying the place, knowing I have a solid staff," Peters said. "I'm not the kind of guy that buys a place, comes in and hires a bunch of new people. I want to retain and continue on with everybody."

Peters doesn't look to make any major changes right now, imploring the old notion of it's not broke, don't fix it. He said he does have some plans for the future and wants to bring a variety of performers to the outdoor venue. Some fire pits are being added near the river as well.

"People hate change, so I want to keep everything the same to begin with; the menu, the staff. I just want to wrap my arms around it and we'll start making changes as we go," he said.

Jeffrey Peters of Carroll stands on the back patio of the Boathouse Tavern, which he recently bought from Dave and Sharon Tatro. He wants to bring a variety of acts to the outdoor stage and sees the river access as a major asset.
Jeffrey Peters of Carroll stands on the back patio of the Boathouse Tavern, which he recently bought from Dave and Sharon Tatro. He wants to bring a variety of acts to the outdoor stage and sees the river access as a major asset.

The Air Force veteran of 20 years wants to be a hands-on owner even though he splits his time between Ohio and Key West, Florida. He's engaged to an emergency room doctor in Key West, is a member of the Ernest Hemingway Look-Alike Society and plays King Neptune for the annual Key West Mermaid Festival. Both organizations are involved with local charities. His daughter is a fashion designer and his son works for BrewDog Brewery in Canal Winchester.

Find out more about the Boathouse Tavern on Facebook or call 740-722-9445. Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Leonard Hayhurst is a community content coordinator and general news reporter for the Coshocton Tribune with more than 15 years of local journalism experience and multiple awards from the Ohio Associated Press. He can be reached at 740-295-3417 or llhayhur@coshoctontribune.com. Follow him on Twitter at @llhayhurst.

This article originally appeared on Coshocton Tribune: New owner of Boathouse Tavern praises renovation work, great staff