From Concept to Community Hub: Titans Tavern thrives in Tea with expanded menu and events
From Facebook lives to in-person visits, the Tea community has been invited to follow along with one restaurant’s journey from an idea to an operating bar and kitchen.
Just last month Titan’s Tavern reached another milestone, as it finalized its menu and extended its hours to include lunch.
Owned by Josh, Dylan and Seth North, Joshua Eide and Joseph Beltran, Titans Tavern offers drinks, bar food, games and more. The location of the former Tea Steakhouse is also home to O’Toole’s Casino, the Tea Event Center and North Bros Liquor.
“A lot of people love the honesty. They love knowing where we’re at and where we’re trying to go,” Seth North said in regards to the live videos of the restaurant’s progress.
Many Facebook users have followed along with the restaurant since the tavern’s beginnings. In the spring, North saw a post advertising the building. He said that a week later, contracts were in place and the brothers officially took over the space in the last week of April.
O’Toole’s Casino opened first and the bar area followed a week later. Just after Teapot Days, Titans Tavern started serving food.
“My brothers and I were originally looking for something a little bit smaller,” North said. “And then this popped up, and we were like, ‘Well, let’s do it.’”
Although he and his brothers were born and raised in Sioux Falls, North said Tea made for an ideal spot for their restaurant.
“I personally just love small towns more. They’re a lot more homey,” North said. “We know we’re going to do well, so we know the support will be there, especially because we’re very heavily involved.”
The Norths established Titans Tavern with their fair share of restaurant and business experience. Seth North owns a commercial cleaning company, snow removal company and is a co-owner of The Bunker, a bar in Harrisburg. The trio have also accumulated experience in restaurants such as Buffalo Wild Wings and Old Chicago.
When it came time to develop a menu for their own restaurant, North said Midwestern-style food was the goal. Appetizers range from onion rings, chislic and fried pickles to breaded mushrooms, pretzel bites and popcorn shrimp. Entrees include chicken wings, tacos, burgers and more. Sides, such as french fries and tots, are served a la carte.
North said his favorite dish on the menu is the French dip, but the most-ordered items would be The Philly and the chicken wings. The kids menu seems to be doing well, too, North said.
“That was a big thing for me with kids because my kids are so picky, and I know a lot of other parents deal with that too, so I’m always making sure that it’s kid approved,” North said. “And so far, I haven’t seen very many kids leave here with their plates not empty.”
Betty Otten and her husband, who live just a mile south of Tea, have seen the location change hands in recent years, but Otten said they have enjoyed dining at Titans Tavern this summer.
“The owner, which one of them is Seth, he will come around and make sure that you’ve got everything that you need. He’ll wait on your table,” Otten said. “So, the employees are absolutely incredible and the food is really, really good.”
Otten said she and her husband’s favorite menu items include the cheeseburger, patty melt and quesadilla.
“It’s clean. They’re very careful about keeping everything clean,” Otten said. “And on top of the service industry, so I just give them really kudos for what they’re doing.”
Outside of their typical products and services, Titans Tavern also brings in the Tea community with themed events, such as UFC “Fight Nights” and karaoke nights. In the future, North said the Event Center could feature comedy shows, bands and even dueling piano events.
With the restaurant underway, North said the next goal is working on getting North Bros Liquor up and operating, remodeling the patio area and sprucing up the Event Center. North said the Event Center is technically open but needs some minor work, such as new paint and sanding the floors.
“Honestly, we’re all really excited for the Event Center, just bringing fun stuff in,” North said. “You know, that’s what we always tell people. We’re just looking to bring in good people and have good times. That’s all we’re trying to do.”
Those looking for a meal or game of pool can stop into Titans Tavern on Sundays to Thursdays from 11 a.m. to midnight or until 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Beginning August 31, the restaurant will also serve breakfast on the weekends before 11 a.m.