Troll Pub expected to open in early 2018

Popular Kentucky tavern overcomes potential problem.

The owners of the Troll Pub at the Wheelhouse coming to 220 Wayne Ave. in Dayton have overcome a potential snag that had threatened to throw a wrench in their plans, and they are now gearing up for an early 2018 opening.

The Dayton restaurant and bar will be the second location for Troll Pub Under The Bridge, a popular tavern in Louisville, Ky.

In early September, when the new pub’s owners applied to the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Liquor Control for the beer, wine and liquor licenses they’ll need to serve alcohol when the pub opens, they discovered a license to serve beer was not available at that time, a spokesman for the division of liquor control told this news outlet in September.

But Ben Barker, the Louisville pub’s general manager, has told this news outlet that the potential problem has now been resolved.

“We have the license in hand,” Barker said. “Aside from contracting, we are on schedule to open after the build-out is done. We are hoping for a early to mid-February opening.”

Barker had said he was confident Troll Pub would either be able to obtain a new license or purchase an existing license to serve a full complement of beer, wine and spirits.

“A big part of our business is beer — we’ve got 32 taps. We’re not going to open without a beer license,” Barker said in September.

“The Wheelhouse” is the name of the project in the 200 block of Wayne Avenue that will include a 40-unit apartment building and the Troll Pub restaurant and bar, along with other potential retail.

The new 6,500-square-foot Dayton pub is expected to seat as many as 250 and to employ about 45, Barker has said.