Bob and Noelle Schwab met in a Dallas, Texas restaurant called on Pub on Main. Call them sentimental, but when they opened their own pub in Bolton Landing, they wanted to honor it.  Hence Pub on Nine.

Actually, Pub on Nine is on Route 9N, which Bob is fully aware of, having spent summers and weekends in the area for more than thirty years.

The couple moved to Bolton year-round in 2006. Arriving during one of the heaviest snowfalls on record, they found a community willing to embrace even newcomers and the Wooden Barrel, a pub at the bottom of the hill where they felt at home.

“We loved the Barrel,” says Noelle. “We like to go out dancing and listen to music, and there were few places like that. We saw its potential.”

While Bob’s background is in civil engineering, Noelle’s is in restaurants, so they were willing to take a risk and re-open the Wooden Barrel as a music and sports pub.

“We opened in January,” said Noelle. “Local people have given us a lot of support, and the other restaurant owners, people like Peg and Mark Turner from the Diamond Point Grille and the Foys from Cate’s, have been incredibly helpful.”

The Schwabs began booking bands almost as soon as they opened their doors and now host music Wednesday through Saturday nights. As of this weekend, bands will play on the deck starting at 5 pm.

“We’ve learned that if you book the right bands, the people will follow,” said Bob. “We book popular bands like Blue Moon and Bobby Dick. We have jazz, rock, country, whatever people want. We’re trying to learn what people like. We’re here for the customers, not ourselves.”

While the Schwabs knew their beer taps, their wide-screen TVs, karaoke machines and bands would be draws, they’re pleasantly surprised by the popularity of their food.

“Fifty percent of our business is food,” said Bob. “We attribute that to the skills of our cook, Chet Huck.”

“We started with the basics of a pub menu and elaborated upon that,” said Noelle. “In addition to burgers and wings, we have a hot pastrami sandwich and a Cuban that have both become popular and great soups and salads.”

Service from the kitchen is available until 11 pm. The bar closes at 2 pm.

The Schwabs used the winter to get the kinks out of the operation before the summer crush.

“We’re beginning to attract unfamiliar faces, and we make sure they feel as welcome as the locals are” said Noelle.

“The fact that we have so much parking is a draw in itself,” said Bob. “We’re especially convenient for anyone staying south of Bolton Landing.”