ELYRIA — In the past three years, Alex Bodiford has had his doubts Bistro on Taylor Street would see the light of day.
The family business, owned by siblings Alex, Janetta and Mike Bodiford, had its stops and starts until finally opening its doors for a soft opening Friday evening.
“It took us a year and a half to completely renovate the place, maybe another year getting everything up to city requirements,” Alex Bodiford said.
“I’ve learned a lot.”
Another setback was the death of the business’s executive chef just weeks away from the original opening date — setting them back another six months.
Despite the challenges, Bodiford said the family wanted to bring healthy options to their hometown — especially after his switch to a vegetarian lifestyle three years prior. The bistro serves raw juices, smoothies, infused spring water, and build-your-own pineapple bowls, tacos and avocado toast.
They feature so many avocado dishes, Bodiford said, that the oddly shaped fruit is in the business’s logo on the side of the building.
“I was always looking for the vegetarian option or the healthy option, and it was limited,” he said. “So one of the things I wanted to do was say, you know what, let’s bring the vegetarian alternative to the place. And I hate using the word healthy because it scares people when they’re in the food industry, but essentially I wanted to have that option.”
The new restaurant, at 645 Taylor St., is in the former Gibby’s Place. The longtime watering hole closed in 2015 after its owners — in their 80s — chose to retire and none of their children wanted to run the bar.
“They come in all the time, and I tell them every time that I see them, ‘We’re just hoping to have just a little bit of your guys’ success,’” Bodiford said of Gibby’s Place owners Richard and Barbara Gibbons.
He added, “One of the sons, his name is Joe, he came in last week and it was his first time seeing the place and he was just so impressed. He immediately left and left me a message on Facebook that said he’s just proud to see that it’s still going to be going on. One of the other relatives of the (Gibbons), they messaged me on Facebook and said that building helped raise three or four families, and so it’s very sentimental. and I share that because it’s a family business for us.”
Bistro on Taylor Street plans to feature local artist’s work for sale on the walls in the back half of the restaurant. Keeping its liquor offerings local was important, Bodiford said, with every beer on their list, except Budweiser, made in Ohio. Their wine list includes bottles from John Christ Winery in Avon Lake.
Bodiford started working in the food industry at 16 years old at the then-new Red Lobster near Midway Mall. Knowing from that moment he wanted to make a career out of it, 26 years later his dream is becoming a reality with the help of his family.
“We’ve had sibling rivalries, but at the end of the day we’re all focused on one goal, and that’s to bring great food to Elyria,” he said. “Through all the trials ... leads us to today. It’s been a tough road, but we’re here now.”
The Bistro on Taylor Street is open 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. It has a liquor license that includes Sunday sales.
For more information or to place a takeout order, call (440) 723-5276.
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