Wooden Shoe redo

MINSTER - The Wooden Shoe Inn, a long-standing community staple, has been given a new life and a fresh start under the guidance of new owners.

Andy Phlipot, 55, has loved The Wooden Shoe, both the brewing company and restaurant, since he was a child. At age 9, Phlipot said he was the youngest member of The Wooden Shoe beer collectors club. He and his father have been collecting Wooden Shoe memorabilia for years.

The Wooden Shoe Brewing Co. got its start under the name of Star Brewery, which owner Franz Lange opened in 1869.

Author Timothy Gaffney, the man behind "Dayton Beer: A History of Brewing in the Miami Valley," said Star Brewery changed its name to Wooden Shoe Brewing in 1939.

The brewery was so popular and did so well, the Wooden Shoe's beer taxes and liquor permit fees covered all of Minster's operation expenses from 1935-1937, according an article from the Minster Community Post. The brewing company eventually closed in 1946.

Phlipot said the restaurant got its start in 1933 and has been famous for its fried chicken and family atmosphere ever since. The restaurant has been an institution, he said, adding almost everyone in town has a story or a memory tied to the eatery.

Phlipot said he had been eager to buy The Wooden Shoe from owner Fred Meyer for years and had even recreated two of the Wooden Shoe Brewing Co.'s famous brews in 2005 to sell. Phlipot was able to sell and brew the beers for a few years until it became non-profitable, which he attributed to craft brewing not yet being the trend it is now.

Finally, Phlipot struck a deal with Meyer once the owner was ready to retire, and Phlipot bought the business in December 2019.

"This time, it was my calling to do it again," Phlipot said of buying the business.

He expected an eight-week renovation period but instead got six months, part of which he attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We took our time, too," Phlipot said. "It's been a fairly significant journey so far."

While the exterior remains the same, the interior has been completely remodeled. However, the familiar charm has remained.

The restaurant features exposed brick, previously hidden behind plaster, and original doors from the 1930s, which have been restored. The building had once served as a mail station, so Phlipot said he is honoring part of that history by decorating some of the walls with wagon wheels.

Along one of the walls of the restaurant is a recreation of a 1940s backdrop from the Crescent Theater. Phlipot said his brother-in-law took roughly 100 photographs of the original mural, stitching the photos together to create a seamless print on canvas.

"We've tried to keep a lot of the original feel," Phlipot said. "We're trying to preserve history that the community loves."

The interior isn't the only drastic change The Wooden Shoe Inn has seen. The menu has been completely revamped, while still keeping some of its most popular dishes.

Joe Phlipot, Andy's son, is executive chef and back-of-house manager. After graduating from culinary school, the chef said he worked at The Grille in New Bremen for a stint, The Inn at Versailles for six years and at Joint Township District Memorial Hospital in St. Marys for 10 years before returning home to work for his dad.

The menu is upscale, with options such as the "Ahi Power Bowl," which features sesame-crusted ahi tuna on a bed of power grains, a rainbow of vegetables with wasabi and toasted sesame dressings, and a charcuterie board of fresh meats and cheeses.

However, the chef made sure to keep the classics and bring some German fare into the mix. Customers can can order the classic Wooden Shoe fried chicken, made with the original recipe from the 1930s, and upgrade it to a chicken and waffles basket for a few extra bucks.

The menu also features items such as sauerkraut balls, pork schnitzel, sticky sweet pork belly, Dunkel bourbon glazed salmon and a build-you-own burger menu.

Joe Phlipot said his favorites include the ahi tuna tacos, cajun shrimp and polenta and the macaroni and cheese. His dad was preparing to eat an Ahi Power Bowl after his interview.

The Wooden Shoe Inn will feature its signature brews, the Wooden Shoe Lager and Bock Lager, which Andy Phlipot said is brewed by Tailspin Brewing in Coldwater.

The Bock Lager is dark with a sense of sweetness to it, and the Wooden Shoe Lager is a true lager, the owner said, taking between eight to 10 weeks to ferment and age.

The restaurant will also feature a bourbon bar, with 63 bourbons, 12 Scottish and Irish whiskies and 14 beers on tap. Classic cocktails from the Prohibition era will be available, such as Andy Phlipot's favorite Old Fashioned.

While capacity is limited due to COVID-19 restrictions, the owner said the restaurant will be able to seat 150 people in the front room and bar area when fully opened, while the back room can comfortable seat 75 people for bridal showers, wedding rehearsals and other events.

Despite the new interior and menus, Andy Phlipot said the restaurant is made for family casual dining.

"We want people to be able to come here and not feel stuffy, or like you can't wear blue jeans," he said. "It's still The Wooden Shoe Inn, with a modern renovation that makes you feel at home."

The Phlipots are excited and ready to open on Tuesday. For at least the first few weeks, they will accept reservations only. Tables can be reserved by calling 419-628-2349 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the restaurant can only seat parties of 10 or fewer. The restaurant will be open 4-9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 4-9:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 4-8 p.m. Sunday.