5 recent restaurant openings and closings in West Akron, Fairlawn and Copley

Kerry Clawson, Akron Beacon Journal
Updated ·6 min read

It's been a busy month for restaurant openings and closings on the west side of Akron. Here are five recent changes in the restaurant scene in West Akron, Fairlawn and Copley.

Town Tavern opens in Copley

Town Tavern opened in Copley Aug. 21 after extensive renovations to the former TGI Fridays on Restaurant Hill at 125 Montrose W. Ave. A 2,500 square-foot addition to the building features a new cupola, indoor dining, a four-season patio addition and a huge back patio as well as front patio seating.

The restaurant, open every day, seats more than 500. Hours are 11 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. Saturday-Sunday. The kitchen is open until 1 a.m. each day.

Chef Lee Turano talks about a selection of dishes he and his team made at Town Tavern Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023, in Copley, Ohio.
Chef Lee Turano talks about a selection of dishes he and his team made at Town Tavern Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023, in Copley, Ohio.

The menu features a variety of casual starters, salads, burgers, sandwiches, flatbread pizzas and soups, as well as higher-end entrees that include a double-cut pork chop and an 8-ounce filet.

Town Tavern is expected to take online orders soon. For more information, see towntavern.com or call 234-466-0227.

Town Tavern: Bright, airy Town Tavern offers casual and upscale dining offerings in laid-back setting

Ki Asian Cuisine to open in former House of Hunan location

Ki Asian Cuisine is still being renovated but the restaurant's set to open soon at 2717 W. Market St. in Fairlawn Town Centre, in the space formerly occupied by House of Hunan. House of Hunan was run by the Suen family from 1983 until July 2022.

Ki Asian Cuisine is owned by the Lin family, who previously ran Happy Family Buffet in Coventry Township, which closed when its lease ended last September. The new restaurant will offer Chinese and Japanese food, including a sushi bar, said family member Xiao "Zoe" Liu.

She said the restaurant is expected to open the first or second week of October.

Ki Asian Cuisine is expected to open in October in the space where House of Hunan formerly was in Fairlawn.
Ki Asian Cuisine is expected to open in October in the space where House of Hunan formerly was in Fairlawn.

The menu includes 15 special sushi rolls, poke bowls, Nigiri sushi, sashimi and a variety of regular rolls or hand rolls. Daily special lunches cost $8.25, while daily special dinners run $12.75.

The menu also includes fried rice and noodle dishes, Teriyaki dishes, traditional Chinese entrees and chef's specials.

The Lins, of Barberton, have renovated the restaurant facade, which featured a gold door, red walls and a faux roof overhang of green tiles. It now has a door with a lotus flower design, imported from China, and a stone and black tile exterior.

The family has put in a new floor, seating and decorations. The Ki Asian Cuisine owners are also waiting for a liquor license.

The menu is expected to be added to the website at kiasiancuisine.com in the next several days.

Hours will be 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday. Phone is 330-805-4888.

Bomba closes in Copley's Montrose Center plaza

Bomba Tacos + Rum closed Sept. 17 at the Copley Township location after operating at the Montrose Center plaza at 3900 Medina Road since 2016. A sign on the door says "after unwavering commitment and dedication to our beloved community, it is with heavy hearts that we announce the closure of Bomba Taco + Bar in Fairlawn (sic). ... The decision to close our doors was not made lightly and it comes with a mix of emotions."

Building owner Danny Marchetta said he first heard about Bomba closing the same day it happened. He said he corresponded by email only with owner Andy Himmel of Paladar Restaurant Group, which owns Bomba restaurants.

Bomba closed Sept. 17 in Copley.
Bomba closed Sept. 17 in Copley.

Marchetta said Bomba's lease had not run out.

"We'll get someone in here," Marchetta said of the space.

"It's not unusual for a restaurant" to close quickly, Marchetta said. "The only reason a restaurant closes is there's a fire or there's no business or something."

Bomba owner Himmel did not return requests for comment.

A letter outside Bomba in Copley addresses the restaurant's closing.
A letter outside Bomba in Copley addresses the restaurant's closing.

According to local news reports, the Bomba Tacos + Rum location in Chagrin Falls also closed Sept. 17. The Beachwood Bomba location had closed in May. Bomba locations remain in Malvern and Newtown, Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia.

The restaurant group's Paladar Kitchen + Rum Bar in Woodmere also closed just over a week ago, with a message on its website carrying a similar message to Bomba's closing, saying, "After 16 years of unwavering commitment and dedication to our beloved community, it is with heavy hearts that we announce the closure of Paladar Latin Kitchen & Rum Bar in Woodmere, OH."

Agave + Rye announced last week that it's slated to have a grand opening in Paladar's former space in Woodmere in spring 2024.

Noodle King opens in Copley

Noodle King, owned by Eddy Wang, had its grand opening Aug. 25 at 3900 Medina Road Suite W. in Copley, several doors down from the closed Bomba. He's also owner of the adjoining Sakura Sushi, which has been in its Copley location for 22 years.

The restaurant specializes in ramen and pho, with ramen noodle choices including wavy or straight noodles. The ramen is pork-based, ranging from $13.50 to $16.99. A vegetarian option is also offered for $12.50.

The pho dishes include five beef-based options and one vegetarian. Prices range from $12.50 to $15.99.

"We boil the soup like eight, 10 hours," manager Julie Lin said of the special soup bases for the ramen and pho.

Appetizers at the full-service, dine-in restaurant include edamame, spicy wonton, Moo shoo pork belly bao buns, bang bang shrimp, vegetarian spring rolls and more.

Hours are 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Sunday. Online orders also are available. See noodlekingakron.com or call 330-576-3166.

Barrelhouse opens in former Arnie's space in Akron's Wallhaven neighborhood

Longtime bartender Nick Jones bought the former Arnie's Public House in West Akron's Wallhaven neighborhood, bringing in chef Matt Trainor to start the new restaurant Barrelhouse. Jones purchased the assets at the Westgate Plaza restaurant at 1682 W. Market St. from longtime Arnie's owner Steve Arn at the end of July, after Arn's July 25 retirement.

Akron native Jones redecorated, developed a new menu and opened Barrelhouse to the public Aug. 23. The restaurant is newly painted blue inside, with a new corrugated, stainless steel featured wall and wood bourbon barrel lids accenting an upper wall.

Barrelhouse owner Nick Jones helps to serve food as it's put in the window Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023, in Akron, Ohio.
Barrelhouse owner Nick Jones helps to serve food as it's put in the window Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023, in Akron, Ohio.

Arn had owned Arnie's Standing Room Only, which originally opened further west on West Market Street, since 1990. It underwent a makeover in 2015, when it was renamed Arnie's Public House.

The stars of the new Barrelhouse menu are Trainor's shareable small plates. Barrelhouse also offers all-day brunch every day it's open.

Kitchen hours 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday and Wednesday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, and 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday. The restaurant is closed on Tuesday.

Barrelhouse opens in former Arnie's spot in West Akron, emphasizing shareable small plates

Arts and restaurant writer Kerry Clawson may be reached at 330-996-3527 or kclawson@thebeaconjournal.com.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Restaurant openings, closings in West Akron, Fairlawn, Copley