PHOTO PROVIDED Ruby and Dave Harkey, owners of the Oak Grove Tavern on East Central Avenue in Avis.

The Oak Grove Tavern, or as most people know it, Dave and Ruby’s Oak Grove Tavern, in the Borough of Avis. is where everybody knows your name, to borrow a line from a popular television sit-com.

“People love the atmosphere. They come and sit. A lot of people refer to that show “Cheers“, where everybody knows what everybody’s about and if you don’t, you’ll be friends by the time you leave,” said Dave Harkey, who with his wife Ruby, owns and operates the tavern.

At the turn of the century in the 1800’s, the building housed the Oak Grove Pharmacy. Some of the cabinetry from the pharmacy is still in the tavern today, located in the bar area.

During Prohibition, it became Josephine’s Restaurant until the ban on serving alcohol was lifted and it began a new life as Pond’s Tavern, acquiring the first and only liquor license in the borough to this day. The next owner, who had it for 19 years changed the name to the Oak Grove Tavern which the Harkey’s kept when they purchased it in 2017. But everyone knows it as Dave and Ruby’s.

Dave, who retired the year they purchased the tavern, handles the food service and Ruby runs the bar and front end of the business.

“I’ve always cooked for veterans my whole life. I used to work for Blasie’s as a service manager and I always cooked for those guys. It’s just something I’ve always done,” Dave said. He was also the deputy warden at the Clinton County Correctional facility where he was in charge of food service and maintenance, so he’s been involved with food for many years.

So, when he took an early retirement at 55, it was a logical step to buy the tavern.

Unfortunately a little over two weeks after the tavern opened, Dave was hit head-on by a tractor trailer truck while riding his motorcycle and nearly lost his life. He still struggles with the aftermath and faces another back surgery as a result of the accident.

Although it does serve alcohol, Dave stressed that the tavern is very family oriented.

Every Tuesday they have bands playing in the patio area, weather permitting, where they feature an outside seafood buffet.

“We have seating for 160 to 200 people outside. Our bands usually run from 6 to 9 (p.m.),” Dave said, making it more family friendly.

“We’re not a bar, per se. We have a liquor license, but we’re 80 per cent food. Just that kind of atmosphere,” he said.

The Harkey’s have expanded the outdoor space to include three patios and a parking area which can be utilized for larger crowds. There is a portable stage to accommodate the musical entertainment, which can be moved inside in the fall. Inside the tavern seating capacity is 50 people.

The kitchen area has been expanded to include two full operating kitchens and one prep kitchen.

They have also branched out into off-site catering as the business has grown. Currently there are 18 people employed at the Oak Grove Tavern, including family, Dave said.

“We’ve had big birthday parties, retirement parties. We have catered anywhere from ten to 1,000 people,” Dave said.

Diners who are hungry prime rib and steak want to visit Dave and Ruby’s on Wednesdays. If seafood is more to your liking, Tuesdays throughout the summer you can dine on a seafood boil and listen to the music on the patio. Thursdays and Saturdays are made for wing fans and Fridays feature haddock sandwiches and dinners and other seafood combinations. Sundays are always reserved for a home cooked meal, like beef tips and mashed potatoes or meatloaf and stuffing.

“Every Sunday is something different,” Dave said.

In addition there are always specials featured each day. For some idea of what is offered, check out the tavern’s Facebook page for information.

So why should someone try out Dave and Ruby’s Oak Grove Tavern?

“For the atmosphere,” Dave said, adding “our prices are fair and the food is great.”

The tavern, located at 206 East Central Ave., Avis, is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays, noon to 8 p.m. on Sundays and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. They are closed Mondays.