Event commemorates closing
Anthony's is closing for good
John-william Davis believes its time to get back to basics.
“It’s time for me to focus deeper on the life I came
here to live,” the local restaurant owner said. “I
have an 8-year-old, a 2-yearold and a four-month old
baby. I moved here to be a father. It’s time to make a change.”
John-william Davis and Kaitlynn Davis are giving
up the lease on Anthony’s/ The Venue, home of the former Elks Club that was in
its second iteration as a restaurant, to devote more time to family and spend
more time in the restaurant that he opened downtown late in 2015.
Opting to close Anthony’s is bittersweet.
“I’m sad for the money we invested, I’m sad that the business we named for our
son is closing,” Davis said. “This building has a lot to offer.”
Renovations to the former Marly’s Restaurant opened up the first-floor dining and
improved the kitchen facilities. The second floor ballroom hosted wedding receptions, private parties
and more during the threeplus years it was open. COVID-19 restrictions didn’t
help the in-person business much, although it was used when those restrictions lifted, and Davis was able to
use the restaurant as his catering headquarters.
The improvements made make the building a turnkey operation for someone who wants to run a restaurant from that location.
“I’ve turned down at least five reservations just over the last 72 hours because I knew this was coming up,” Davis
said. “There is business out there. Just not for me.”
Closing the location is adapting to changing times.
Staff is hard to find, steady catering opportunities are drying up and Davis wants to put his focus back at J’marie’s.
“I own two buildings, J Marie’s and the one next
door,” he said. “It’s time to focus on what’s in front of us.”
To commemorate that closing, Davis is hosting one last bash on the lawn. He’s
invited the band Another Round to perform Tuesday
on stage from 5:30-8:30 p.m. in a concert not only for locals but for visitors who
cycled into town as part of the Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure. He’s planning a
cookout, with burgers, hot dogs and pasta salad on the
menu to purchase along with water and pop, and D.O.R.A. beverages.
The event is family-friendly as well. He’s renting a “bounce house” for children to enjoy; it will be located on the Main Street side of the lawn.
He’s also incorporating a fund-raiser that kicks off Tuesday.
“Sign the Sign” will allow visitors to write the name or
names of loved ones lost re
cently on the business sign outside the building. As Anthony’s was named for their son who was
born prematurely, John-william and Kaitlynn want to keep his memory alive and plan to hang that sign, complete with other names in J’marie’s.
“We want to pay homage to our son, and people who have suffered losses. I’m hoping people will give a donation to sign it with the name of
a loved one, and we’ll give that donation in Anthony’s name to the Nikki Schaub 4-H Scholarship fund,” Davis said.
People can sign the sign all next week; donations can also be dropped off at the restaurant.
The fund-raiser and the free concert are just a way to say thank you to the community.
“We are so appreciative of the support we had at Anthony’s and the support that continues at J’maries,” Davis said. “We are proud to call Wapakoneta home.”