Meet Your Neighbors Down at Rush Inn Bar & Grille

By Cheryl Mandell

Back in Lakewood, Ohio, everyone knows Kenneth Rush’s name. Since 1981, he has owned the Rush Inn neighborhood bar restaurants that are within walking distance for everyone in town. His goal was to offer locals a twist on the traditional bar and grill by offering top-tier, fresh food options in a welcoming, neighborly atmosphere. At the Rush Inn, regulars really earn their status.

This newest location in Estero, which opened in late March, is a step outside of the box. After 44 years in the “down home” restaurant business, Rush is looking to bring that small-town, local feeling to sprawling Southwest Florida.

Located on the south side of Miromar Outlets in the former space of The Llama’s House, Rush Inn is chock-full of elevated comfort food, Midwestern classics, and a bevy of beverages.  The goal is to bring locals together from outside their gated communities to spend some time becoming familiar — in a place where everyone knows your name.

The open-air concept at Rush Inn provides a breezy atmosphere with a huge, indoor-outdoor bar to keep the drinks flowing for guests dining inside or in the newly renovated outdoor space. The walls are adorned with photographs of Florida landmarks, and there’s even a modern jukebox for music-loving locals. Rush took care to create an entirely new patio area, providing ample seating under a giant awning for maximum shade. In the coming months, likely by September, guests will be able to enjoy live music on the patio, Rush said.

Rush’s daughter Aubrie, a student in the PGA Golf Management program at FGCU, was the impetus for the Rush family to relocate to Southwest Florida. Their roots still remain in Ohio, where the three other Rush Inn locations operate under their management — two restaurant locations in Avon and Lakewood, and a creamery in Avon.

The versatility of the Rush Inn Bar & Grille is impressive. Menu offerings include burgers and handhelds, salads and soups, more appetizers than you can dream up, pizzas from their special pizza oven, and entrees which include prime cuts of beef and daily fresh fish options. Some of the restaurant’s most popular items are the fresh, never-frozen jumbo wings that are hand-breaded per order, then tossed in a choice of numerous homemade wing sauces and dry rubs.

There is a dine-in special for every day of the week, such as the Sunday prime sirloin with potato wedges and broccoli, or the ever-popular Friday pierogies. Whether you prefer an ice-cold beer or a hand-crafted martini, the Rush Inn has a menu item that pairs well with any beverage.

“I was looking for somewhere the locals could go,” said Rush. “My first place in Lakewood was a small town with a lot of bars and restaurants, and we wanted to make something here where the locals could enjoy themselves and feel at home.”

Rush Inn is open every day — Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and

Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to midnight.  Come down and see why Rush Inn may soon be your neighborhood favorite!