Holy Toledo! Tavern to open in historic Warehouse District

2/6/2018
BY MIKE SIGOV
BLADE STAFF WRITER

The Toledo Mud Hens announced a mid-March restaurant opening in the historic Warehouse District.

To be located in Hensville, Holy Toledo! Tavern will “combine Toledo’s rich history and warm hospitality while providing a fun gathering place for people who live, work, play, and visit downtown,” according to a written statement released Tuesday. Hensville is the entertainment district along a stretch of North St. Clair Street from Washington to Monroe streets, adjacent to the ballpark.

The restaurant will offer “a fresh approach to casual dining,” with a new menu coming soon, according to The Mud Hens.

“We want to create a space for people to not only come and make memories but to celebrate the pride in our city,” said Chris Shannon, the Toledo Mud Hens’ director of operations, food, and beverage.

The statement also said, “Holy Toledo! Tavern will capture the local flavor of our city in the food, memorabilia and conversation,” and listed The Mud Hens, Libbey Glass, The Toledo Museum of Art, Jeep, and The Toledo Zoo as some of the city’s stories to be shared there.

Last month, Mr. Shannon announced the closure of NINE, one of two restaurants that opened in 2016 in the Hensville complex next to the ballpark, for rebranding. Officials at the time said the restaurant was to reopen in several months with a new name. Officials said The Mud Hens were "rebranding that space to be a kind of a different concept than what it was."

A Mud Hens spokesman was not available for comment Tuesday.

NINE and Fleetwood's Tap Room, which is across St. Clair Street, were part of the Hensville entertainment complex that opened shortly before opening day in 2016.

The $21 million mixed-use development of restaurants, offices, and event space was created by using state and federal historic tax credits and new market tax credits to refurbish old buildings, including a pair that date back to the 1880s. 

No major changes to Fleetwood's are planned, Mr. Shannon said last month.

Contact Mike Sigov at sigov@theblade.com419-724-6089, or on Twitter @mikesigovblade.