As owner of Stadium Grill on Tyler Boulevard in Mentor for six years, Greg Shultz knows the area and the loyal customer base well.
So when he decided to reinvent the restaurant as Tommy Boy’s Pub, there was no need to find another location.
Shultz recently converted Stadium Grill into Tommy Boy’s with new partner Mike Donato. They officially opened on Aug. 17.
Located at 8330 Tyler Blvd. in a familiar strip near Center Street, Shultz said he is proud to say Tommy Boy’s offers a 163-inch TV wall, a vibrant, clean space with delicious bites, upbeat service and unique tasty drinks.
“We feel we’ve raised the ‘bar’ on sports bars,” Shultz said. “My entire work life has been in the food service industry. I used to own Guilio Bonazza’s Pizza on Diamond Centre and we had a location next to Drug Mart. I have worked every position possible in a restaurant.”
This new venture is the first of its kind for Shultz, who said when he first started at the location with Stadium Grill, the area wasn’t quite as built up as it now is.
While many associate Tommy Boy’s with the Chris Farley movie, it is actually a nod to Shultz’s first son, Thomas.
Shultz added they plan to be very aggressive with happy hour since that’s the height of traffic in the area. On weekdays they’re offering free pizza to customers who are in the pub drinking in the 3 to 6 p.m. range.
As far as the menu, it is not as large as many conventional restaurants or pubs, but that is by choice to go for quality over a quantity of items offered, Shultz said.
“I’ve always ran a compact menu,” he said. “It’s a key factor in profitability and quality of food and service. Menu ingredients must be used on multiple dishes.
“So far customers have raved about our smash burgers, which we brought over from our food truck Super Smash Burgers, and also the pizza has been a hit.”
In addition, Tommy Boy’s has some events lined up in the coming weeks/months such as Battle of the Bands, talent shows, pro athlete appearances, such as Kenny Lofton on Aug. 30, and more entertainment.
Shultz said the initial reaction to the opening of Tommy Boy’s after years of Stadium Grill occupying the familiar corner spot in the Tyler Boulevard strip has been overwhelmingly positive.
“I am keeping a close eye to online and so far so good,” he said. “A ton of the old regulars became like family, so they’ve supported us from the start. They know who they are.”
For hours of operation, menu prices and other information go to tommyboyspub.com.
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