There’s been a year-and-a-half of anticipation for residents in Perry, and the wait is finally over as the new Tin Pig Tavern restaurant has officially opened its doors.

Located on the northwest corner of 2nd and Warford streets downtown, the restaurant has a sports bar feel and menu, with some barbecue offerings inspired by the Wobbly Boots eatery in Clive. Owner J.R. Scheffer – who also owns Wobbly Boots and several other restaurants around central Iowa – says he and his son and nephew did the majority of the construction, which had some hiccups along the way. At long last they opened this past Monday, and the reception was so big they ran out of food the first night. They’ve since restocked and the community has continued to show up in droves each evening.

Scheffer says his son, David, will operate the restaurant moving forward, adding that he felt Perry was an ideal locale for their latest venture. “The space itself I love, because of the brick walls, original tin ceilings, and the hardwood floors. And then when I looked at Perry, my son wanted to get into the business, and you chose a small town where he can move and become part of the community, which he is. So small communities, we just love them, and Perry was a perfect fit for us.”

Scheffer says they’re still hiring full and part-time workers, and once they get a full staff they’ll be open from 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. Until then, they’re open seven days a week for dinner only from 4-9 p.m. Additionally, they’re continuing work on the other half of the building which will house a brewery, though that’s not likely to open until next year.