As the owner of Tommy Boy’s on Tyler Boulevard near Center Street in Mentor, Greg Shultz is well aware of what running a restaurant/pub in a commercial area is all about. So when he was looking for another establishment, the thought of something complementary to Tommy Boy’s intrigued him. The se arch led him to a neighborhood bar in Mentor-on-the-Lake that he and his partners took over, and on Dec. 2, Lucky Dogs Pub opened at 7855 Lakeshore Blvd. “I think what appealed to me was being almost nestled right in the heart of a neighborhood,” Shultz said. “It’s walkable for many and an easy drive for even more. It’s a nice complement to Tommy Boy’s, which is in a commercial/industrial area.” Greg Shultz and his partners opened Lucky Dogs on Lakeshore Boulevard in Mentor-on-the-Lake on Dec. 2. (William Tilton - News-Herald) Shultz has worked every position in the industry since starting at the age of 15. He said it started as just a job, like many high school kids, then after high school, in between short-lived attempts at community college he was working at Guilio Bonazza’s Pizzeria on Diamond Center and Mentor Avenue and the owners were looking to sell. Shultz and his brother purchased both locations when he was 21. “At the time I didn’t have long-term plans for this industry but it just kind of fit, and opportunity continued to show itself so we just kept letting it rip,” Shultz said. Greg Shultz and his partners opened Lucky Dogs on Lakeshore Boulevard in Mentor-on-the-Lake on Dec. 2. (William Tilton - News-Herald) With Tommy Boy’s up and running successfully for the past 18 months, Shultz went looking for an option that was a little different and came across a building that was home to The Breakwall Tavern for quite a long time. With partners Steve Blackburn, Erron Gomez and Kristen and Lee Tackett on board, renovations took place and Lucky Dogs Pub took shape in the rural neighborhood next to Ohio AMVETS Post 109. “Before opening we would always explain that it would be a clean, consistent and safe neighborhood dive bar,” Shultz said. “Somewhere you can stop on the way home or bunker down to catch a game.” “I think it’s unique to this specific area because it’s new,” he added. “There are long-standing well established bars, but not many new bars have popped up in that area. We also serve breakfast every Sunday with a different offering each week.” Shultz said that a lot like Tommy Boy’s, the best seller at Lucky Dogs Pub is the smash burger. But at Lucky Dogs, it is the Dill Smash, which is a double smash topped with melted cheese, spicy ranch, fried pickle fries and bacon. Not surprising, there is a night featuring hot dogs and also a wing night, according to the Lucky Dogs Pub Facebook page. As for the reception to the neighborhood, Shultz said it has been very positive through the first seven weeks. “Feedback has been great so far, whether that be online reviews or face to face,” Shultz said. “We’ve gotten so many compliments on food, service and how good the renovations look. We have an amazing crew who take pride in their work and it shows.” Lucky Dogs Pub opens at 11 a.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 9 a.m. on Sundays. Shultz said they are usually open until “late.” ...read more read less