After being open for a few months, the owners of Pizza Pub 516 in Bowling Green are pleased with how
things have settled in for them. Jay and Paula Williams purchased the former Myles’ Pizza Pub on East
Wooster after longtime owner Chip Myles retired.
The Williams family also has owned Trotters Tavern in downtown Bowling Green for nearly four years and
Quarters Bar in Perrysburg for more than 13 years.
Paula Williams said the couple, along with their friends and family, struggled with what to name the
business and had straw votes to choose the best name.
“I really wanted to keep the ‘pub’ mentality as that was important to keep the same feel in here,” she
said.
They finally chose the name and developed the logo in July, months before the purchase was finalized.
“We started discussion in early June,” she said. “Since we became the owners, the community has really
supported us.”
As for Myles, she added, “He’s been fabulous to us. The transition was smooth and easy.”
“Jay and I both said this was the easiest purchase of any of our three businesses” she said.
Williams said her husband loves both pizza and craft beer and the pub gives them the best of both of
those.
“When this opportunity became available we worked and worked to make it happen,” she said.
The couple invested in many renovations and improvements to both the dining room and the kitchen to help
freshen and modernize the pub while maintaining the same intimate atmosphere.
One of the biggest changes was the change of the pizza sauce recipe, which resulted in creating a sweeter
sauce than the prior recipe. The Williamses had asked about purchasing the Myles recipe, however both
Myles and the new owners agreed to not include the recipe in the sale.
“That was purposeful on our part and it is an awesome sauce,” she said.
“People have been very pleased with our recipe and our concept. It is amazing,” she said. “We loved
Myles, but we are not Myles and it was important for us to distinguish ourselves as to minimize
comparisons.”
Among the changes made were updated lighting fixtures, tables, carpet and seat covers on chairs, booths
and bar stools. Computers, wait stations, and almost all new kitchen equipment also were added.
“But it still has the same flavor and atmosphere,” she said. “When you walk in, it still feels like
home.”
The couple also changed the brand of soft drinks and added Ohio Lottery games including Keno.
The restaurant opened for business just before Halloween and things have been very busy, Williams said.
She admitted to some early challenges with delivery, but they have those bugs mostly worked out.
Pizza Pub 516 recently developed an online ordering system that debuted last week. The pub’s social media
handle is @pizzapub516.
Those who enter the pub will see many familiar faces, both as customers and on the staff.
“We hired 34 Myles’ employees who were with us after one month and there are still 28 working today,”
Williams said.
“A lot of that retention is because Chip hired good people. They are friendly, kind and devoted. As far
as staff, we couldn’t ask for anything more.”
Shortly after they opened, there was a sale of the property just west of the pub and with proposed zoning
changes, the parking area beside their building has been lost to them.
“We’re trying to encourage people to use the city lot behind us. Nobody is really complaining. We have
opened up the back door and cleaned out that walkway,” she added.
The lot is metered weekdays until 5 p.m. However after 5 p.m. and on weekends, that is a free lot.
Acknowledging the support from the community, Williams said, “Every day the support reassures me why we
made the choice we did.”
