Franks and Sammies owners unveil Tap That Glass bar-restaurant in Newark
NEWARK — It may not be the best time to open a new business, especially a bar-restaurant, but Dustin Polage got tired of waiting for the right time.
Polage and Samuel Smith, owners of Franks and Sammies restaurant in downtown Newark, opened Tap That Glass on Friday next to their existing business on South Third Street.
Tap That Glass, which specializes in craft beers, opened next to Franks and Sammies, a gourmet hot dog and sandwich shop that opened in 2014 at 34 S. Third St.
"It’s been a plan for years and years, more or less from day one," Polage said. "I decided to go ahead and pull the trigger. It’s more or less an expansion of what I’ve been doing. We’re definitely taking a risk right now. But, the more risk, the more reward. We hope that’s true.”
He has eight employees for the two businesses, which operate as one with with the bar doing business under the Franks and Sammies name.
Tap That Glass offers 17 draft beer options, mostly local craft beers from Licking County or Ohio.
“We definitely offer something unique compared to other establishments," Polage said. "More local craft beer than other businesses in the area, and the Franks and Sammies food options. We have unique offerings.”
The bar will open with a limited menu that will expand over time with new items such as pulled pork, tacos, nachos and appetizers.
Of course, the worker shortage makes it a challenging time to open or expand a business.
“I’m having more difficulty with the non-bar staff than bartenders," Polage said. "Several applied interested in bartending, but kitchen crew and other positions are proving more difficult to fill.
“We’ve been pretty hard hit (in restaurant industry) and I’ve been operating with a skeleton crew until a few weeks ago, with three employees.”
Polage said he plans to modify the bar hours in the spring, but will start out open from 4 p.m. to midnight Tuesday through Saturday.
Between the lack of workers, adding a second business and the virus, it's been hectic at Franks and Sammies, Polage said.
"Very challenging, to say the least," he said. "I’m spending a lot of my own personal time here to make sure the place continues to operate. We’ve kept our heads above water.”
On top of everything else, the Fourth Street infrastructure project has closed several downtown streets. The construction impact is really unknown, however.
"It’s hard to gauge that because it’s been going on as long as I’ve been open," Polage said. "It’s definitely a negative impact to put it mildly. You have to roll with the punches.”
kmallett@newarkadvocate.com
740-973-4539
Twitter: @kmallett1958
If you go
What: Tap That Glass bar-restaurant
When: Opened Friday
Where: 32 S. Third St., downtown Newark
Hours: 4-12 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; closed Sunday and Monday.
This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Franks and Sammies owners unveil Tap That Glass bar-restaurant
