FEATURED STORY FROM THE Best of BG – 2017 ISSUE
Pizza Pub 516:
A First Date Led to a Love Affair that became Pizza Pub 516
Traveling through Bowling Green and looking at all the stores and restaurants, it doesn’t take long to realize there are not have many chain restaurants in town. For some, this may be a turn off, but a large part of what makes Bowling Green so special is the presence of many local businesses. These businesses rely on each other, and the community to grow and prosper, and this is just the case for Pizza Pub 516.
When business owners Jay and Paula Williams found out that the owner of one of their favorite pizza places, Myles Pizza, was thinking about retiring, they jumped on the chance to purchase the restaurant. “Our first date was actually here,” recalls Paula. “We loved Myles.” When it came to Pizza Pub 516, they knew they wanted to preserve many of the same characteristics of Myles. The Williams own a sports bar in Perrysburg and also Trotters Tavern in downtown BG, in addition to 516. When it came to taking over the former Myles Pizza, they were ready for the challenge.
For many Bowling Green students, alumni and residents, Myles Pizza was a BG favorite. “We don’t look at it as living in the shadow of Myles, we look at it as maintaining something that was as important to Bowling Green as Myles was,” said Paula. If you have ever had Myles before, you can remember the heavy pizza loaded with cheese and toppings. 516 is keeping that aspect of the pizza, but changing the recipe for the sauce and crust slightly to give it their own 516 spin. Since opening in late 2016, business has been booming. Jay and Paula love the positive feedback they are getting for their pizza pub from the community.
“Bowling Green supports Bowling Green. If we didn’t have that support, we wouldn’t be nearly as successful,” explains Paula. “I love going into restaurants in BG and seeing people I know. Whether it be students I teach or other business owners. I know that many people feel the same and we love to support each other.”
They have worked hard to reestablish the 516 delivery operations, which includes an online ordering system where you can order ahead of time from the website. From there you can either dine in, pick it up, or have it delivered.