Patties & Pints just turned three years old. In a business where most establishments don’t even make it past the first year, that’s quite an achievement. While owner Timothy Wolfe told me he is proud of the success of his business, Patties & Pints was always about more than becoming a successful restaurant. Patties & Pints is about his vision for the future of the Boneyfiddle district and of Portsmouth.
This Could Be Huge
Wolfe credits his business partner, Brian Listerman, for coming up with the idea for the restaurant. Wolfe had already renovated the upper floors of the 1891 building. The upstairs space served as housing and office space. Now, the partners wanted to put a solid anchor on the main floor.
Listerman thought he had the solution.”He’s a big craft beer guy and he thought this could be huge in Portsmouth,” Wolfe said. Craft beer sounded like a fitting offering on the street that played home to one of Ohio’s oldest breweries.
It was also the type of business people expect to find in other cities, not in Portsmouth. And that’s just why Wolfe liked the idea. He said the restaurant was an immediate hit.
Boneyfiddle Boom
Wolfe said he and his partner had one goal for Patties and Pints, “We wanted to do something to bring people down to the Boneyfiddle area.”
He said that his vision is to see all of the buildings in the area transformed into multi-use facilities. “We’ll see residents living upstairs and restaurants and business on the first floor.”
Wolfe said Portsmouth has the advantage over other communities in the region in that we have a lot of buildings suitable for conversion to loft-style apartments. “These buildings are perfect for that. It’s an advantage we have. If we get people living downtown we’re going to need grocery stores, restaurants, and convenience stores.”
He said there are seven or eight-buildings under development in the Boneyfiddle right now. “Within the next 12 to 18 months that will bring many more people and jobs downtown.”
No Competition
Wolfe said he knows of at least two new restaurants planned for the Boneyfiddle area soon and he couldn’t be happier about it. “People ask all of the time if I’m worried about other restaurants coming in. I’d like to see one in every building downtown.”
He said the goal is to get students graduating from Shawnee State to stay and to attract new businesses to Portsmouth. “We’re providing jobs and a lifestyle city where people will want to live here. Nice restaurants and craft bears are things that people want.”
Out-of-town visitors often tell Wolfe that they are surprised to find a restaurant like his in Portsmouth. It’s something they expect in Cincinnati or Columbus, but not Portsmouth. “We’ll know that it’s successful when people expect to see that in Portsmouth. That’s the ultimate goal.”
Blessed
Timothy Wolfe said that Patties & Pints is blessed with both loyal customers and loyal employees. “Most of our employees have been with us since day one. That’s tough to say in the food business. Without turnover, you don’t have to worry about retraining people. We’re fortunate to have a lot of good people.”
Pre-COVID-19, the restaurant employed 30 people and is gradually working its way back from the shutdown.
As expected, burgers are the most popular items on the menu. Though sloppy joes and deep-fried banana peppers have a strong following as well.
Wolfe said he can’t wait to see what the next three years bring for his restaurant, the Boneyfiddle District, and Portsmouth.