NEW DETAILS: Local restaurants vow to rebuild after tornado damage

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

Multiple restaurants in several communities in and around the Dayton area were hard-hit by the tornadoes and strong storms that ripped through the region Monday night.

The owners of Wings Sports Bar & Grille at 7902 N. Dixie Drive in Butler Twp. are vowing to come back "better than ever" after the pub was damaged in the Memorial Day tornadoes.

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Chad and Mary Macek, owners of the pub , told this news outlet that the damage was “pretty bad, and we are all devastated. The patio is gone. In the main building, there is a lot of exterior cleanup needed and damage. ... but we will be back and better than ever when ready! Just need to keep our heads up and be thankful no one was hurt!”

>> Tornado Relief: How you can help

Chad Macek posted a picture of the couple’s damaged business on the sports bar’s Facebook page and promised followers a  new stage, new second outdoor bar, and remodeling inside and outside the bar-restaurant.

“We can't wait to have you all back,” Macek wrote. “Thanks so much for the outpouring of support from the bands, customers, and community.”

>> Greater Dayton Disaster Relief Fund established to help those affected by tornadoes

The Maceks also own and operate a second location of  Wings Sports Bar & Grille after buying and renaming Beef O’Brady’s in the Beaver Valley Shopping Center in Beavercreek in January 2019.

The Donatos Pizza shop at 5120 N. Main St. in Harrison Twp. is closed due to weather damage, according to the store's Facebook page. "We will post updates as we rebuild the store, so please stay tuned," Donatos officials wrote. Efforts to reach the local franchise owner were not successful.

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"It looks like a war zone," Enrique Alvarez, who oversees El Toro Bar & Grill restaurants in the Dayton area, told this news outlet this morning as he assessed the damage at the former Abuelo's Mexican restaurant on North Fairfield Road across from the Mall at Fairfield Commons. Renovations had begun in the former Abuelo's space to transform it into an El Toro location.

>> HOW TO GET HELP: Emergency shelter locations for those impacted by storms

“We have pieces of plywood and two-by-fours that went through the exterior wall,” Alvarez said. Rocks and pebbles from a parking lot were picked up and dumped inside the restaurant and also are embedded in walls, he said.

Pebbles from a parking lot are embedded in an exterior wall at the former Abuelo's Mexican restaurant in Beavercreek in the aftermath of a tornado that struck the area Monday night, May 28.

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Nearby, the Dayton area's only Primanti Bros. restaurant will be closed until further notice as officials assess the damage.

>> Tornado Relief: How you can help

“We had no major structural damage,” a Primanti Bros. spokesman told this news outlet this morning. There was some roof damage, and there was damage to the building’s exterior and windows, and there is debris inside the restaurant.

The Primanti Bros. restaurant on North Fairfield Road in Beavercreek was damaged in Monday night's tornado.

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“Everyone is safe, nobody was hurt, and we were thankful for that,” the Primanti Bros. spokesman said.

>> DAYTON TORNADO RELIEF: Everything you need to know after the storm

A prominent Dayton restaurant that was built in 1910 and which housed members of the National Guard during the Great Flood of 1913 also is closed today.

"We have some pretty heavy damage," Amber Rose Restaurant and Catering owner Joe Castellano wrote on the restaurant's Facebook page this morning. "Windows busted, roof has a big hole. Roof peeled of the the walk-in. No electric. We will be closed today — will update more as we know it." The restaurant is located at 1400 Valley St. in Dayton.

>> Former Abuelo’s in Beavercreek to reopen soon as a Mexican restaurant

Jonah Sandler, founder and CEO of Scene 75 Dayton at 6196 Poe Ave., wrote on Facebook that the tornadoes ended up "wreaking havoc on Scene75 Dayton. I am beyond thankful that no one was hurt, but the building itself was hit HARD, and with it, the hearts and stomachs of my team members near and far."

“As we begin to assess, clean and repair, I am sharing now that Scene75 Dayton (and Dayton only) will be CLOSED all week, with updates to come as the days continue. We have teams on site now who share my passion for getting us back up and running as soon as humanly possible… but we have much work to do. ... We will get through this but man oh man, my heart hurts. Prayers welcome for all of the families in Dayton affected by this storm.”

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Elsewhere, the Frisch's Big Boy restaurant on Miller Lane in Butler Twp. was damaged, and its statue of Big Boy was knocked over..

Val Beerbower, spokeswoman for the Downtown Dayton Partnership, said Tuesday that she was not aware of any downtown Dayton restaurants or other businesses that suffered structural damage in Monday night’s storms, but some were still impacted by the tornado’s aftermath.

“Some (businesses) will have limitations on what they can serve due to the boil advisory,” and will have to serve canned or packaged beverages, Beerbower said. “And many of them don’t have Internet connection, so they’re on cash-only operations until that’s restored.”

The Dayton Club in downtown Dayton told its members via Facebook Tuesday that, “Due to storm damage, boil advisory, and request to conserve water, the club will be suspending all member activities, including athletics,” through the end of Wednesday, May 29.

“The health and wellness of our members and guests is of the upmost importance to our team,” the club’s staff wrote. “Otherwise, we will see you all Thursday, May 30, when we resume normal club hours.”

In Dayton's Oregon District,  Roost Italian announced Tuesday afternoon on its Facebook page that it would not open for dinner service Tuesday night due to "loss of power and inventory."

  • Staff writer Kaitlin Schroeder contributed to this report.

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