Woodchuck's Bar and Grill on Erie downtown: open?

I am pretty sure the woodchuck did not see his shadow, and that there was six more weeks of winter. Wait - that was the groundhog. My bad.

Pretty sure it's still open

I was told they were closing last week

Which leads to the next question. How is Erie Street Market doing? Did the new marketing consultant hit her marks?

good god no. it's dead. only thing left is libby factory outlet (which is actually quite busy) and the farmers market.

The ESM has been the primary subject of the "Trader Joe's in Toledo" talks that the city has had going on. While the Trader Joe's talks aren't dead, they don't seem to be going anywhere at present. I'm not directly involved though, so I'm by no means a primary source on the matter.

That was an unsubstantiated rumor. I think started on this site. Ha!

I was there like two weeks ago and it didn't seem like it was a place about to close, though I didn't ask. There was a show but it was pretty busy.

No, definitely wasn't a rumor. I know people who were/are involved in the talks.

And at least as of last Tuesday, he said the lines of communication are still open, but that talks haven't gone anywhere in a while.

I talked to Chuck Wood, the owner, this afternoon and he said his last day will be August 25th.

Was Woodchucks the place with the huge, awesome hamburgers across from Erie Street Market, or was that another place? I had an office near there for a few years around 1998-9 and it was a favorite carry out lunch place, but a dive bar.

That was it! It was called The Old Roadhouse Inn then. Great burgers!

bummer to hear they are closing pete! that location is a bit odd and i can guess business must have been very slow due to zero foot traffic

I'm not at all surprised to hear Woodchuck's is closing. The place has been operating pretty much skeleton hours (some thursdays and weekends only evenings) most of the past year.

They used to do a pretty good business back when the ESM was going full blast. Then it died off around 2005 or so.

The burgers weren't the only thing that was big at The Roadhouse: they used to have a well-endowed waitress there back in the day.

pics or it didn't happen!

This is from Woodchuck's Facebook page:
Saturday, August 25, 2012
This will be the last day Woodchucks will be open for buisness. There comes a point in time when you just have to move on to hopefuly bigger, and better things. There is other buisness opportunities for me that it just makes more sense to let this one die so another can be born. I've had a lot of fun & had the honor to meet a lot of cool people & AWESOME bands. I've put a lot of blood, sweat & tears into Woodchucks & have been doing it for 8 years. Letting Woodchucks go will be one of the hardest things I've had to do.

Woodchucks, the place has become a Toledo institution for all forms of rock n roll, Punk, Metal, Hard Rock, and those that even defy a description. Supporting local talent as well as anyone in the area, and bringing in National acts from all over.
ChuckWoodStock is is a celebration of the venue, the bands that play there and the fans that show up to rock.
Day 2 starts on Saturday at 7pm going till 2 am or maybe later... The musical will cover metal in all its forms and hard rock.
The show will be rain or shine,,, outside weather permitting.

huh? "Toledo institution for all forms of rock n roll, Punk, Metal, Hard Rock". REally? I had only been there a couple of times, and I liked the joint, but it always seemed to be just a little hide-away place, that never met it's full potential. Am I missing something? Was he packin' the place with live music fans?

Regardless, I really do think that place has a lot of potential........

yeah, it does have potential. hopefully it doesn't just get boarded up and sit empty. it's closed and re-opened before.

i only went there twice, and both times the bartender overcharged my credit card tab by at least $30

needless to say i found other places to spend my money