Fort Scottians may have noticed that there is a construction area on the south side of Sharky’s Pub and Grug, 16 N. National Avenue.
A major project is underway by Tina and David Lipe who started the restaurant in June 2011.
“Our facility has everything: a cool designed building, a banquet facility…and we always wanted an outdoor facility,” Dave Lipe said.
He said through the years they have added solar equipment on the roof, all new windows and doors and beginning sometime in September 2024 there will be a large outdoor patio open to the public.
They began the project in June of this year and when completed there will be a bar, pickleball court, TVs, gas firepits and bathrooms.
“It will be a place for people to enjoy outdoor dining, a little live music, and pickleball,” he said. “Hopefully people will come and enjoy it.”
The patio is 50 feet by 100 feet, with a fence around it and is located south of the restaurant. Entry is from the restaurant.
They hired local Fort Scott businesses to work on the patio: PJW Consulting and Ron Hurd Construction. Others were McKenney Masonry, Geiger Plumbing, Jeff Allen Electric, Bill Lalman Fencing, Miller Brothers Welding and Peerless Products, Inc. who made the doors from the restaurant to the patio.
About the restaurant
Sharky’s has 32 employees, mostly part-time and they will be adding more with the patio opening.
Their banquet facility is on the third floor of the historic building and is for birthday parties, wedding receptions, and meetings.
Starting Thanksgiving weekend they open a Christmas-themed pop-up bar on the third floor.
“People really enjoy Sharkey’s North Pole,” Lipe said.
The restaurant also provides catering services to the community.
For information on reserving the banquet room or catering services, contact Lipe at 816.392.2825.
Restaurant hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, Friday and Saturday until 2 a.m. and they close at 7 p.m. on Sunday except for some sporting events, he said.
The Lipes have a Sharky’s Pub and Grub in Iola, KS and Nevada, MO and is a true family business, with two of their four children working with them.