"To preserve a three-generation legacy by prioritizing people, perfecting the craft of hospitality, and ensuring every guest finds a seat at our table."

“At Tommy Johns’ Tavern, history isn't just on our walls—it’s in our blood. Our mission is to honor a fifty-year legacy by making people our absolute priority. We blend old-school soul with modern hospitality to ensure every guest feels like a regular from the moment they walk in. Through attentive service, a welcoming atmosphere, and a commitment to quality—from our hand-patted burgers, handcut fries, never frozen wings to a perfectly poured Guinness—We aren’t just a bar; we are a community staple, building our future one guest at a time.”

Three Generations, One Name: The Story of Tommy Johns’

In 1963, Thomas John Hufnagle Sr. opened the doors to a local pool hall- a modest space for a game of billards and a bite at the lunch counter. As the years turned,the business grew with the community. By 1971, my grandfather secured our first liquor license-the very same one that hangs on our walls today as a testament to our roots. For over 50 years, this tavern has remained a cornerstone of the Hufnagle family.

Out front, Thomas John Hufnagle Jr. and his brothers were building a legacy of their own-one shoe shine at a time between racking pool balls for patrons. My father eventually went on to form Hanover’s first pool league in the basement bar, creating a space that welcomed everyone at a time when the world was still segregated. He was a man of immense character who helped anyone he could, eventually taking the helm in the mid-90’s. If you venture downstairs today, that original shoe shine chair still stands: a quiet, wooden reminder of where we began.

In 2018, I took up the torch following my fathers passing. You may notice the name and the specific placement of the apostrophe: Tommy Johns’. It isn’t a typo: it is a tribute to the three Thomases-Senior, Junior, and III- who have called this place home. While we have retired the “Hufnagle’s Hotel” name to usher in a new era, the lineage remains unbroken. With my daughter already on-site as our fourth generation,we are ensuring that while the name has evolved, the tradition is here to stay.

We are more than just a restaurant; we are a fifty year thread in the fabric and tradition of this downtown. Welcome to the next chapter.