Towpath Tavern, with its family-friendly atmosphere, consistently great food, and casual charm, has been welcoming customers for almost a decade now. Conveniently nestled at 225 Canal Street in Bolivar, Ohio, near the interstate with its name proudly displayed on the fence, the tavern has become both a stop for travelers and a central meeting place for families across the region. It is a gathering spot with a relaxing atmosphere and uncompromised food quality that locals have come to trust for every lunch and dinner occasion.
The story behind Towpath is just as personal as the place itself. At the age of 55, after retiring from over three decades of working at UPS and in car sales, Rich Dotts realized he was not ready for full-time retirement. He owned an Italian restaurant called Bassetti’s in the past, which inspired him to breathe new life into his passion for hospitality, and he landed perfectly on the idea of Towpath. The building had been sitting empty for two years when Rich and his partner, Tina, purchased it and turned it into a local culinary landmark.
It’s hard to single out one star dish among many favorites like the Bavarian pretzel, spaghetti with special sauce, mouthwatering broiled walleye, Build a Burger, or house-made meatballs. However, when it comes to the all-time customer favorite, the Prime Pork Chop never loses its number one title. Famous for its tenderness and rich flavor profile, the dish meets and exceeds expectations by bringing out sweet, nostalgic moments of great memories, all evoked through an unmistakable taste and a deep dedication to culinary consistency.
Towpath has built a community that feels more like a group of neighbors than a customer list. The owners take pride in seeing the same familiar faces they have been serving since 2017, while others use the tavern as a meeting point as it sits between several nearby towns. In the summer, guests drift out to the patio, a cozy setting to unwind, and it is common to see familiar guests greeting each other across tables. Most customers arrive through word-of-mouth, which perfectly captures the essence of Towpath: a dining experience that is welcoming, trustful, and friendly.
We look forward to serving all who walk through our doors, as that is what we enjoy the most. We have been told how consistent our food is in taste and quality. That is due to our refusal to cut corners and the great kitchen staff we have.
The partnership between Towpath and Atlantic Foods began long before the tavern opened its doors, dating back to when Rich and Tina were running the Camp Store at Atwood Lake. That was where Rich first began working with Tommy, their Atlantic sales representative. Since then, Tommy has become a vital part of the tavern’s daily rhythm. He regularly stops by with seasonal ideas, menu recommendations, and new product samples, making sure that the kitchen always has the best ingredients to keep the tavern’s customers happy.
Atlantic has also helped simplify some of the hardest parts of running a kitchen. For example, switching to pre-cooked corned beef and pre-peeled eggs saved a significant amount of prep time, which gave the staff more room to focus on cooking and service instead of rushing through back-of-house tasks. The custom order forms also help to make sure that nothing important gets missed during busy shifts. Watching Towpath grow, Atlantic remains genuinely excited about its ongoing journey and success.
Towpath Tavern counts on Atlantic for its remarkable flexibility and consistent reliability. As the business grew, we adjusted their delivery schedule from twice a week to six days a week to accommodate their limited storage space and higher demand. With deliveries arriving as early as 6:00 AM, the tavern gets fully stocked before opening at 11:00 AM. The early distribution timing removes the stress of potential product shortages during the busy lunch rush, allowing the team to prepare for the day without pressure.
For Towpath, a “great fit” means having a distributor that is just as invested in the restaurant’s success as the owners themselves. We stay committed to the quality of the food and the speed of delivery, while Towpath Tavern expresses that very same dedication toward serving their own clients. Having these shared values and a mutual drive for excellence in operating a business has built a deep trust between our teams. It is a bond that has been earned through years of working side by side, and it continues to evolve as we both grow.
Despite being approached by other suppliers over the years, we remain firmly committed to Atlantic given how satisfied we are with their service.
