Say (grilled) cheese! The Lockview reopens for downtown Akron lunch crowds

Patrons are finally able to indulge in gourmet grilled sandwiches for lunch again at The Lockview in downtown Akron, which reopened for lunch service this week. 

The restaurant, which hadn’t served lunch for nearly two years since the pandemic began but was open for dinner, now offers lunch starting at 11 a.m. Tuesday through Friday at 207 S. Main St. That means lunch folks can partake of the menu’s choice of grilled cheese gooey goodness, most of which are meatless, just in time for the start of Lent.

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“I’m really excited to be open, because it seems like it’s been 2½ years,” owner Danny Basone said. “We’re a service downtown. Downtown’s done a lot of work to make it nice and we want people to come down here and see the changes.”

Basone, who has owned The Lockview for nearly 14 years, recently opened Funny Noodle for dinner next door. He said he was excited to be standing outside Tuesday on Main Street, seeing people downtown.

“More people are starting to work downtown again,” Basone said.

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Before the pandemic, he used to have 48 people working for him in the summer. Now, he has about 16 employees at The Lockview.

“Right now, it’s more of a financial thing. We need to operate at full capacity,” Basone said of the lunch reopening. “Right now, we need to be back to full service.”

He said lunch was packed from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday. The restaurant brought in $1,500 in lunch sales, which Basone called “pretty good.”

“We definitely push out food for lunch time. We’re known for one of the fastest turnarounds to come in,” the restaurateur said.

His sister, day manager Joanne Richards, reported some happy lunch customers.

“She said she was getting hugs from people,” Basone said.

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Lockview’s kitchen had closed temporarily in July due to staffing shortages but the bar remained open. Now, Basone doesn’t have enough staffing to offer lunch on Mondays. The restaurant is continuing to accept applications.

For those who want to order lunch from The Lockview to eat at home, the restaurant also offers DoorDash delivery. See www.thelockview.com for more information, including full hours.

“We’re excited to see our regulars and offer takeout after this long hiatus,” The Lockview Facebook page said Monday, hailing its lunch reopening.

Arts and restaurant writer Kerry Clawson may be reached at 330-996-3527 or kclawson@thebeaconjournal.com.