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Ostrich Towne, a community of local dining and services just outside of Downtown Toledo, is adding more reasons to stop by with additional seating and a new business.
Within the Vistula Historic District since 2023, Ostrich Towne will now include a wine bar, One of Each and revamps to its outdoor space, The Alley.
“The developers have put in a lot of thought into the feel [of Ostrich Towne], but also the tenant mix. The tenant mix has been very special with the local entrepreneurs; it makes for a great atmosphere when people come down there,” said Cheryl Hardy, public relations and marketing for Ostrich Towne.
New to Ostrich Towne
One of Each is a wine bar opening this summer. The bar will soon be offering around 25 different wines at a time, by flight, glass or bottle, that you can even bring home.
John Metz and his wife, Alexia, co-own the business that is currently being constructed.
“We’re still working through construction, so we’re still probably a good couple of months from opening,” John Metz said. “We’re looking at later this summer.”
If hungry, One of Each will also offer a tasting board with meats, cheese, chocolates and more to accompany your glass.
Along with an event space for customers to rent once it opens, they plan on hosting their own events as well.
“We’ll try to get music guests every so often and we’ll have outdoor and indoor seating for guests to enjoy,” Metz said.
As wine-lovers themselves, John and Alexia got the idea from their travels.
“So Alexia and I would travel and we’d go to wine tasting rooms and wine countries, and we would just start daydreaming about what it would be like if we did this [opened a wine bar],” Metz said. “My job came to a point where it came to a natural end, so it felt like a good point in our lives to do this.”
As it’s owned by a husband and wife duo, the name came from the family as well.
“One of each has two meanings. One is we’d obviously want you to try each type of wine, but we have twins, one girl and one boy, so one of each,” Metz said.
The owners chose the location in Ostrich Towne because of the atmosphere it holds.
“We liked that there was a built-in community of other similar, but not the same businesses. And the alleyway in the back for larger events and entertaining is a great space,” Metz said.
Along with this new place to grab a drink, Ostrich Towne’s outdoor space, The Alley, will now include new seating options.
“Guests will be starting to see things between now and the Fourth of July,” Hardy said. “We will have some bistro seating and some stackable seating that really allows people to gather and enjoy events.”
Some of the events Ostrich Towne hosts in the Alley include weekly bingo, live music and city-wide events.
“We’re having the River Run on the Fourth of July. It’s starting and finishing in Ostrich Towne,” Hardy said. “A bunch of car enthusiasts come in and bring cars, like a car party, which happens in July.”
Along with areas to sit with family and friends, there will also be new artwork to liven up your view.
Local artist Dean Davis will be painting a mural of an ostrich at the Rally in the Alley event on May 27 from 6-9pm. Local band The Bridges will also be performing that night.
The Alley is an outdoor event space which can be rented out for personal events, along with the pre-existing events that happen on-site.
“There is an entrance to all of our tenets in the alley, LED lights above it that can be used for light shows… It’s a very nice space where people can gather and it’s part of the DORA,” Hardy said.
Businesses in Ostrich Towne
This alley is the reason behind Ostrich Towne’s name.
Ostrich Lane was the former road turned vacant alley that houses the center of Ostrich Towne today.
Currently, this once vacant strip houses four spots for food and drinks, including One of Each, one studio space, two services, two event spaces, including The Alley and apartments.
All eight businesses and apartments are locally owned, something Ostrich Towne prides itself on.
“The great thing about Ostrich Towne is everyone there is a local entrepreneur,” Hardy said. “When there is a need for something, the tenants ask each other, which creates a warm and welcoming atmosphere for tenants and customers alike.”
As of today, Ostrich Towne sits at about 60% full, according to Hardy.
Riverside Barbeque is a restaurant known for its Texas-style barbeque, craft cocktails and live music. Their next show is a celebration including multiple local bands for Bob Dylan’s birthday on May 24 from 5-8pm.
Molly’s Irish Pub serves authentic Irish cocktails and, of course, Guinness and hosts Irish music nights weekly. The story behind the pub and The Gypsy Rover found inside is worth the visit.
The PWR Movement is more than just a protein shake bar; it’s a place to seek community support when it comes to working out. Offering protein shakes, protein snacks, and take-home kits, they also offer membership packages that include community support and prizes and perks to keep you motivated.
DBD Studios offers completely furnished studios specifically for those in the cosmetology field. Along with these studios, they also offer The Glam Room, a rentable space that you can use for your own specific needs, a photoshoot or a kids spa day.
Restore 419 is a restoration and construction company focused on restoring historic buildings to blend the classic look with a modern twist.
Nemsys is an IT company offering services to better manage your technology and cybersecurity.
The Nest is the second option when it comes to renting a space in Ostrich Towne, but this location is indoors.
“The Nest was an old carriage house that was renovated and is now used for indoor event space,” Hardy said. “It includes AV [audio-visual] equipment and a partial kitchen. The decorations are more like something you’d find in an upscale home than an event space.”
If you’re looking for a place to live, Ostrich Towne also has apartments available for rent. They have one and two-bedroom pet-friendly apartments available.
For more information on Ostrich Towne and the businesses and apartments it holds, go to ostrichtowne.com
