See ya soona, Ugly Tuna

Grab your friends and fishbowls: Ugly Tuna Saloona is BACK!

John Votino, owner of the O.G. Ugly Tuna, will reopen his iconic bar at 195 Chittenden Ave in the former location of Two Bucks. After closing on all paperwork last Friday, renovations have already begun.

The original Ugly Tuna was notified last April by CampusPartners that his establishment must close its doors on May 1. The space has since been converted into offices.

Votino wants this new bar, “Ugly Tuna 2”, to feel like the same place that was loved by Columbus since 2004. The walls will be their classic ocean blue, plus all of the bar’s classic canvases will be going back up on new walls. Votino is building a stage just to the left of the entrance, as well as adding umbrellas, tables, and chairs to the patio out front. All the same deals you remember and love will be there: fishbowls and Ugly Hour.

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Although Votino knows the old bar’s vibes were primarily focused on drinking and dancing, he wants to offer a limited menu of bar bites at the new spot. In partnership with one of his other local restaurants, Nasty’s Sports Bar in Hilliard, Ugly Tuna 2 will offer burgers, wings, and pizza available for purchase.

While the bar will definitely be open for business by the Senior Crawl on Tuesday, April 30, Votino’s goal is to open doors around April 25 or 26 to give his crew time to get into a rhythm at the new location.

As far as the original Ugly Tuna goes, Votino holds no grudges with Ohio State and knows that the time has come for High St to develop in a new direction. He’s mostly excited to begin Ugly Tuna 2’s journey on Chittenden with a new family of bars.

“Oldfield’s, Leo’s, all these bars are moving away from High St. I think we’ll have good synergy between us, it will be a good walking place. Our new saying is, ‘Getting Chitty With It’.”

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