if it’s getting to be about lunch or dinner time, or maybe even game time, then it may be the perfect time to mosey on in to the almost new sports- themed diner Donny’s in Wellington.
Right in the center of town at 203 N. Main St. next to the Spirit of ’76 Museum, sits this quaint restaurant with a full-service bar that serves some fantastic fare to hungry customers.
The spacious and bright space features seven large televisions mounted to the walls, along with a variety of local high school sports memorabilia, and one large Brutus the Buckeye mascot waving as if to greet customers.
Several tables front a large, well-stocked back bar featuring seasonal and every day beers, wine and spirits.
But, it’s what you don’t see that just may set Donny’s apart from the more traditional sports bars.
“There’s no neon beer signs,” said owner Darla Metz as she smiled. “No beer or alcohol related items on the walls.
“We certainly serve alcohol, but I wouldn’t refer to us as a bar. We wanted to create something that was warm and welcoming and a good spot for all ages to enjoy. Come in, have some great food, enjoy the game and a beverage and hang out with your friends and family.”
Donny’s is owned by Metz and her sister Tiffany Warner, both born and raised in the village of Wellington and graduates of Wellington High School.
They chose to name the restaurant after their father, Don Wacker, whom all of his friends always referred to as “Donny.”
According to the sisters, it always was their father’s dream to one day open a sports-themed restaurant, but never really seemed to get around it.
“He used to talk about it all the time when we were younger,” Tiffany said. “I’m not sure if he was entirely serious when he talked about it, but it seems to come up a lot.
“‘Gee,’ he would say, ‘wouldn’t it be fun to run a restaurant’ or ‘I wish I had a sports bar.’ Things like that and his face would light up when he talked about it.
“He was a such a well known and beloved figure in the community. Everyone knew my dad. He was a diary farmer. He worked over at Wellington Implement. But, I guess the time was never quite right and the location was never quite right and he ended up never opening up that restaurant. So, when the opportunity came up, my sister and I decided to name our place after our dad and in his honor.”
Transformation
Initially, the sisters were poised to purchase a local pizza franchise.
The pair started along that path, but when the old Mosey Inn came up for sale, complete with building and two upstairs apartments, Darla and Tiffany knew it was the right place, at the right time to begin their journey as restaurateurs.
Transforming the Mosey Inn into Donny’s was no small feat.
There is nothing recognizable in the current space from the old dark beer hall.
The sisters explained that it took two full years to actually renovate the tired space into the vibrant location of today.
Large windows flank each side of the restaurant, with one large window peering out from the kitchen where passers by can get a front row seat to the culinary creativity.
“Oh did we learn a lot of things,” Darla said. “Not just the restaurant business, but all the improvements to the space.
“There was so much cleaning and scrubbing and tearing things out and putting things back together; it was quite an undertaking.
“We created the menu. We went to trade shows. We had great mentors and so much help along the way. And it’s had its ups and downs, after all, it’s the restaurant business. But for the most part, things are going very well. The staff becomes like family, and this is truly a fun stage in the process.”
Donny’s has 17 staffers.
All the food is made to order and features a large selection of handmade burgers and mouth watering sandwiches, complete with sides such as signature fries, onion rings and mushrooms.
There are several salads for lighter fare, and Darla shared that the flatbreads are extremely popular.
One of her personal favorites are the house made Reuben rolls and the boneless wings referred to as “Wacky Balls.”
The pair also is branching out and plan to open an ice cream shop and deli in Wellington in the coming year.
For more information, call 440-828-0888 or visit the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/p/Donnys-100057580894029/.
