Brooke GreenwoodSometimes it takes being away from home to bring a person back home. Cue a chance meeting last May between the previous owners of the old Pub 47 building and now current owner, Nina Oates, of The Hideout.
Nina began her journey away from the Mid-Ohio Valley in 2006 to attend college in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Upon college graduation, she travelled and moved between South Carolina, Florida, California, England and other places in Europe. When she returned to the MOV last year, she saw a need for an establishment where people can have fun, be entertained and enjoy great food. Thus, The Hideout was born. So in reality, her chance meeting with the owners of the old Pub 47 building was not an accident, it was destiny.
“Our vision for The Hideout was to have a cool hangout spot where people feel like they are part of the family when they walk through the door. So many places you go to these days are just about volume – getting the customer in and out the door. That’s not what we were going for. We wanted to create an environment where people want to come and enjoy awesome homemade food, have a drink or two, if desired, and stay and hang out for as long as they want,” Nina said.
The Hideout recently celebrated its one year anniversary and the community response to this casual eatery located off of Route 47 has been extremely positive.
“We could not be more pleased with the response we are getting from our local MOV customers, as well as travelers that pop in off I-77 and Highway 50. Customers describe The Hideout as a comfortable and friendly environment where they feel welcomed and relaxed,” Nina said.
One aspect that makes this restaurant stand out is the homemade dough used for subs, rolls, calzones, pizzas and hamburger buns. Nina’s business partner and mom, Paula Oates, is responsible for the delicious dough that makes its way from the kitchen to the customers’ tables.Paula is the former owner of Pastime Pizza in Marietta, Ohio and the dough recipe that’s used has been in the family for over 70 years. The dough has to be extra special, considering the restaurant’s number one seller is the Italian Sub. Other customer favorites include the Buffalo Chicken Pizza, Taco Pizza and the Hideout Deluxe. Of course, no restaurant would be complete without a mouthwatering burger, and the half-pound Hideout Burger is sure to entice every foodie back for another visit.
Nina is passionate about her restaurant, but she also wished to provide the MOV with more, and she’s done that by presenting live entertainment. The Hideout hosts open mic comedy nights, which feature 15-20 amateur comedians from across West Virginia and Ohio, all of whom are working on perfecting their craft. Three to four headliner comedy shows take place each month. The headliner shows are a hit, as they always sell out.The open mic comedy nights are free to the public. Instead of charging for a ticket, Nina asks viewers to bring in one non-perishable food item that will be donated to a local charity. Tickets cost roughly $10 for those who choose to attend the headliner comedy shows. Tickets sell out quickly, so reservations are required. The headliner shows are hosted by Joel Gant who scouts comedians from across the United States. Comedians visiting The Hideout have ventured as far as Detroit and Atlanta.
The joint also hosts movie and trivia nights. Karaoke rocks the place every other Friday with host Paula Hadley. Each month a themed party takes place for those looking to participate in something unique in this area. Disco lovers boogied down in May for the disco themed party. For June, Nina decided to draw from the Multicultural Festival that took place in Parkersburg, W.Va. and hosted a Latin-American dance party. July may see a Hawaiian luau or a toga party.
Concerning future plans for The Hideout, Nina plans on sticking around a long time and looks to make The Hideout a permanent name in the MOV.
“The Hideout is important to the MOV because we need fun entertainment establishments where we can go kick back and laugh and meet new people. I’m excited to get Parkersburg on the map and make it a destination that people want to visit,” she said.