Olers celebrates 40 'delightfully tacky' years

For 40 years, Oler's Bar & Grill has been Findlay's go-to spot for Tex-Mex and margaritas, served in a "delightfully tacky" atmosphere. And, after successfully steering the restaurant through a pandemic, its owners are prepared to take on the next 40 years — and counting. Findlay native Neeli Oler and her business partner, Chris Keller, took over ownership of the restaurant in September 2019. Oler had always been close to the business: Her father, Bob, was the previous longtime owner, who then sold the restaurant to her aunt, Debbie Cooper. Oler said it was "always a dream to buy this," noting that she worked in the restaurant all through high school and college. "Shoutout to my dad and Debbie for paving the way." While excited to expand the food and drink menus and introduce the highly popular patio, the new owners were ever mindful to stay true to the foundations Oler's family had laid down. "We tried to keep the almost, like, a Cheers-type situation here, where everyone knows you," Oler said. "That hasn't changed a bit. "I think the tagline, slogan of 'delightfully tacky' has never gone away." Oler calls herself a "pretty hands-on owner," noting that you can find her just about every day in the kitchen at Oler's and her other eatery in town, Dark Horse Restaurant. She enjoys introducing new recipes, spicing up existing recipes, and keeping up with changing industry standards. "I love to be in the kitchen. I love to cook. It's a passion." But she's also loyal to the restaurant's fan favorites, such as the Tostizza and other signature items. And, of course, she wouldn't dare mess with the margaritas. "Obviously, if we ever changed our margarita, that would be our downfall," she said. Oler's goes through 12 gallons of margaritas a day, with the most popular being the original. A new jalapeno margarita and a black eye (an original margarita with a drop of blackberry syrup) have both been well-received options this summer. The restaurant marked its 40th anniversary in May, and Oler and Keller would have loved to have hosted a big parking lot party to mark the occasion. They're hoping that easing pandemic restrictions will allow for some sort of belated party this fall. Oler called the pandemic a learning experience, noting that the restaurant had to adapt very quickly to a huge new demand in carryout orders. Even with in-person dining picking up, she said weekend to-go orders remain very busy. Margaritas and other to-go alcoholic beverages, she noted, continue to be popular. All of this, she said, would not be possible without a dedicated team of employees, and an "amazing, loyal" customer base that starts filling the barstools at 2 p.m. every day for happy hour. "We have amazing staff that stuck it out when they were scared and so much was unknown," she said of the pandemic. "I always say, 'You surround yourself with good people and good things happen.'"