Dog Gone: The Ulti-Mutt Pet Lovers Bar

When local dog lover, Tim O’Brien (or more commonly known as T.O) acquired the property on 125 First Street, he wanted to do something different then the common bar and grill places located throughout the small town of Ellwood City. Seeing as he had all of this unused property on the lot, T.O went to the drawing boards and created something new: Dog Gone.

“[I wanted to] give the town a different aspect to the bar/restaurant scene,” O’Brien said. “It’s not just a shot and beer place where people come to get plastered.”

Within the walls of the restaurant, he has created an atmosphere of comfort and fun. A 40-foot-long bar, adorned with charging ports for patrons phones, sits in the middle of it all, offering good drinks and a menu featuring foods like lamb chops, fish sandwiches, and meatball sandwiches to those who venture into the building. T.O is no stranger to owning a bar, he had owned the Oasis Sports Bar in the 1990s up until its closing in 1999.

“I was looking for a nice, homey atmosphere [that would attract] a crowd of nice people,” T.O said.

Since its opening back on March 15th, Dog Gone has attracted a steady stream of people, ranging from their mid-20s and older, but he wants to create something more. T.O says he won’t stand any troublemaking people, claiming that the 16 surveillance cameras inside and outside the bar that are constantly recording should assist in weeding out any signs of trouble.

Being the dog lover he is, and owner to two rescued Staffy Shire Bull Terriers, he wanted to use the outdoor area for something unique. He said he could have easily created a Cabana bar with a DJ, but he did not want to have noise and volume to become an issue, claiming that because of his good relationship with the Ellwood Police it wouldn’t sit right with him. Thus the idea of a Yappy Hour came to mind.

The plan is to have 3 or 4 leash-less runs for people to bring their pups to. With 6 to 7 octagon style picnic tables being built, weather depending, people can come from noon to 8:00 p.m. and enjoy drinks out in the little park with their dogs.  O’Brien says that he plans on building an outdoor Cabana to serve the Yappy Hour, this dog fueled time will go on from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. daily. T.O hopes to be able to add things like toys and tunnels to dog area as well.

Owners will, however, be required to sign some waivers and will be in charge of making sure their dogs have all of their shots, as well as paying a once a year fee of $10.

Dog Gone owner Tim “T.O” O’Brien

“If you’re a reasonable dog owner, there should be nothing to worry about,” O’Brien said.

However, this bar was not a one-man job. O’Brien likes to mention the immense amount of support and help he has received by his childhood friend, Mayor Anthony Court as well as his stepdaughter, Regina Hiler and countless other. Court and O’Brien grew up together as neighbors, taking Stiefel Park by storm as kids playing in any way they could.

Hiler is the principal and assistant director of the Butler County Area Vocational and Technical School and had enlisted the help of some of her students in the creation of the Dog Gone signage.

Dog Gone will be open Monday-Thursday from 3:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. and Friday-Saturday from 3:00 p.m. until 2:00 a.m.