Welcome to West Liberty, Ohio
  • Events
  • Visitors
    • Shopping
    • Dining
    • Lodging
    • Attractions
    • Neighboring Destinations
  • Residents
    • Departments
      • Police Department
      • Fire Department
      • Street Department
      • Water & Sewer Dept
      • Board of Public Affairs
      • Code Enforcement Officer
      • Parks
        • Fairview Cemetery
        • Splash Pad
        • Shelter House
    • Elected Officials
    • Council
      • Village Council Minutes
    • Government
      • Bid Packet
    • Community
      • Employment
      • Religion
    • Be A Good Neighbor Guide
    • WL-S Schools
  • Local Business
    • Directory
    • Business of the Month
    • Business of the Year
    • Business Association
    • Join the WLBA
  • Mayor's Corner
  • History
    • West Liberty Historical Society
    • West Liberty - A Look Back
    • Purple Heart Veterans
    • Veterans
  • Contact
  • Events
  • Visitors
    • Shopping
    • Dining
    • Lodging
    • Attractions
    • Neighboring Destinations
  • Residents
    • Departments
      • Police Department
      • Fire Department
      • Street Department
      • Water & Sewer Dept
      • Board of Public Affairs
      • Code Enforcement Officer
      • Parks
        • Fairview Cemetery
        • Splash Pad
        • Shelter House
    • Elected Officials
    • Council
      • Village Council Minutes
    • Government
      • Bid Packet
    • Community
      • Employment
      • Religion
    • Be A Good Neighbor Guide
    • WL-S Schools
  • Local Business
    • Directory
    • Business of the Month
    • Business of the Year
    • Business Association
    • Join the WLBA
  • Mayor's Corner
  • History
    • West Liberty Historical Society
    • West Liberty - A Look Back
    • Purple Heart Veterans
    • Veterans
  • Contact
Search

West Liberty Business of the Month

September 2023 Business of the Month: Liberty Gathering Place

9/1/2023

Comments

 
West Liberty Business of the Month Liberty Gathering Place
We would like to congratulate Liberty Gathering Place for being selected the West Liberty Business Association’s September 2023 Business of the Month. The LGP restaurant is located at 111 N. Detroit Street in downtown West Liberty, Ohio.

New owners, Ashley Shaffer and Eric Karn, purchased the restaurant from Cindy Oelker in March 2023. Ashley works full time in the business. Eric is a food safety auditor as well as owning ETK Dumpsters. They currently have approximately 10 employees.

Liberty Gathering Place was established in 1995 in the former Dajolee's Restaurant location. Before Dajolee's, the restaurant was called The Betty Lane Restaurant, which opened in 1941 and was run by Cora Saltz. In 1958, the restaurant was sold to Rose Emma Smith and her son Dan. The name was changed to Dajolee's, which was the first 2 letters of Rose Emma's son's names (Dan & John), and the middle name of Jerry Lee.

In the early 1970's, the Smith's purchased the adjoining building, which housed the former Kirby Hatchery. Dajolee's was expanded to include the banquet room. After 23 years, the Smith's sold Dajolee's to Delbert and Kathy Fullencamp, who at the time, also owned The Graystone Restaurant in West Liberty.

In 1995, Cindy Oelker purchased Dajolee's from the Fullencamp's. Cindy had been operating The Graystone Restaurant since 1988 for the Fullencamp's. In April of 1995, the entire operation was moved to the Dajolee's location, and The Graystone Restaurant closed its doors. Cindy Oelker wanted to establish a new name for the restaurant, and after consulting with her customers, it was decided to name the new restaurant "Liberty Gathering Place" because it's the place where people would gather in downtown West Liberty. Cindy sold it to Ashley and Eric in March 2023.

Liberty Gathering Place offers customers a comfortable atmosphere to gather with friends and family to enjoy great food and homemade pies. Ashley and Eric believe the restaurant is unique because of the length of time the restaurant has been in business. They are members of the West Liberty Business Association as well as support the community, local businesses, and schools as often as possible. The customers love the fact that they can gather in a relaxing atmosphere and socialize all while enjoying a variety of foods. The restaurant offers many specials such as their salad bar. They have also started a breakfast buffet that they feature one weekend per month currently. They encourage residents and visitors to follow them on their various social media accounts to see updated specials and dates. You can find them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/libertygathering.place and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/libertygatheringplace/. The phone number is 937-465-3081. Their hours are Monday and Tuesday from 6:00AM-2:00PM, Wednesday through Saturday from 6:00AM-7:00PM and Sundays from 8:00AM-2:00PM.

When not working at the LGP, Ashley and Eric enjoy spending time outdoors, working on their homestead, listening to music, playing games, and watching and attending sporting events. They say their favorite thing about West Liberty is the support that the community gives to the local businesses and the support and encouragement that they have received from West Liberty residents. Ashley and Eric say they feel very fortunate for the opportunity to own and operate their business in West Liberty.

Again, congratulations to Liberty Gathering Place! There will be an award presentation at the restaurant on September 1st at 3:30 pm.

Written and submitted by: Brenda Snyder, WLBA Secretary
Comments

    WL Business of the Month

    Stay tuned each month for a new spotlight Business of the Month!

    Past Winners

    All
    Berry Digital Solutions
    Bobbi's Bungalow
    Civista Bank
    Community Health & Wellness Partners
    Country Friends
    Country Legends Concert Series
    Dragonfly Vineyard & Wine Cellar
    Elle A Design
    Hillside Greenhouse
    Jennings Farley & Seely Funeral Home And Crematory
    J & L Vernon Farms
    JT's Property Maintenance
    Liberty Chiropractic
    Liberty Gathering Place
    Logan Lawn & Landscaping
    Malia Hughes
    Marie's Candies
    MCC Thrift Shop
    Michael's Pizza
    Ohio Caverns
    Piatt Castle Mac-A-Cheek
    Powered By Fathom Realty
    Solomon's Garage
    Stoner's Ice Cream Parlor
    Sweetie Pie's Cafe & Bakeshop
    The Peoples Savings & Loan Co.
    Theresa's Gingerbread House
    Thoman's IGA
    West Liberty Healing Arts
    West Liberty Historical Society
    West Liberty Lions Club

    Past Winners (By Month)

    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022

West Liberty Business Association
West Liberty Business Association
Berry Digital Solutions logo
Site powered by West Liberty's own Berry Digital Solutions
  • Events
  • Visitors
    • Shopping
    • Dining
    • Lodging
    • Attractions
    • Neighboring Destinations
  • Residents
    • Departments
      • Police Department
      • Fire Department
      • Street Department
      • Water & Sewer Dept
      • Board of Public Affairs
      • Code Enforcement Officer
      • Parks
        • Fairview Cemetery
        • Splash Pad
        • Shelter House
    • Elected Officials
    • Council
      • Village Council Minutes
    • Government
      • Bid Packet
    • Community
      • Employment
      • Religion
    • Be A Good Neighbor Guide
    • WL-S Schools
  • Local Business
    • Directory
    • Business of the Month
    • Business of the Year
    • Business Association
    • Join the WLBA
  • Mayor's Corner
  • History
    • West Liberty Historical Society
    • West Liberty - A Look Back
    • Purple Heart Veterans
    • Veterans
  • Contact