Open to, and insistent on, change.
That’s been the mindset for the three owners of The Wheel since they staged the October soft opening of the new eatery that’s been serving an ever-evolving menu at the former location of TJ’s Sports Garden in Wheeling.
That’s because Mark Bardwil, Gee Lofstead, and Dave Pilarski – all members of Linsly School’s Class of 1986 – have been discussing the restaurant business ever since their commencement took place 40 years ago. So, when this opportunity presented itself, talking the talk quickly turned into walking the walk.
“And I think we’re reaching the expectations, and I’m proud of everyone for getting us to where we are today,” said Lofstead, an attorney with the Spillman Thomas & Battle law firm in Wheeling. “I love working with our team here, and we’ve been lucky so many TJ’s employees stayed with us because they’ve caught on to what we’re doing very quickly. That’s why, operationally, we’re ahead of where I thought we’d be by now and that’s been a very pleasant surprise.
“The buzz has been great, too, and it’s a lot of fun to speak with our customers, and trust me, we do listen to them and we want to hear from them,” he said “We know there’s a lot more people who still need to come trying what we’re doing here, and we’re hoping we see a lot of those folks when the ribbon cutting take place.”
The Wheel’s menu offers everything from starters, soups and salads, a variety of smash burgers, handhelds, wraps, a number of entrees, and five different desserts. The trio of entrepreneurs also have invested in a commercial smoker, so, Bardwil explained, a few new items will be available in the future.
“We’re working with our staff now with the new smoker, so soon we’ll have brisket and pork belly tacos while maintaining our core menu items, and then it’ll be fun to see where it all goes into place,” he said. “We’re not going to be some exotic restaurant that’s going to throw all of this new stuff at the folks here in Wheeling, and that’s why we’ve kept a few things on our menu that were very popular here when it was TJ’s.
“Along with those items, we have a lot of food that people know very well here in this region, and that’s going to be consistent,” Bardwil reported. “Our menu is a work in progress – I think that’s the best way to explain it.”
Officials with the Wheeling Chamber of Commerce will be on hand at 3 p.m. for the ceremonial ribbon cutting, and then at 4 p.m., WOMP FM’s “Johnny O” will be at The Wheel playing music and giving away prizes to those in attendance. The restaurant is located at 808 National Road across from the Hampton Inn.
The owners will donate 20 percent of the afternoon’s net sales to the victims of this summer’s tragic flash flooding via the Community Foundation of the Ohio Valley.
“Being a part of the community is something that’s very important to us, so that’s why we have arranged a partnership with the Community Foundation to help the people who are still battling back from that devastation,” explained Pilaski, a veteran of the food service industry who also owns and operates a catering company in Baltimore, Md. “And we’ll take every opportunity to help our neighbors. That’s a priority with all us.
“Because my career has been in food service, I understand the day-to-day operations and knew what we were getting into. That’s why, for me, this is about the challenge and the opportunity, but at the same time, I know I’m the guy who won’t ever be satisfied. But this is an incredible opportunity,” he said. “So, how does the business evolve and grow? That’s something that we’ll always be looking to do.”
