LUDLOW, Vt. – The family that brought the neighborhood bar and taproom Eight Oh Brew to the old Ludlow Woolen Mill four years ago has opened a second spot on Main Street – a family-friendly, Western-themed bar and burger joint called Slingers.
“Like gun slingers, or slinging drinks, slinging burgers,” owner Jake Baraw described.
The menu is limited on purpose, at least for now. “We wanted this place to be quick and easy,” said Baraw.
Located just up and across the street from Eight Oh Brew, at 190 Main, Slingers serves smash-style burgers, fried chicken, fries, onion rings, and a foot-long hot dog called The Homewrecker.
Baraw’s partners in the business are his wife, Alex, and her parents, Lisa and David Del Tufo. The latest addition to the family is tiny, 8-week-old baby Beau. Dressed in a brown onesie during a recent visit to Slingers, Beau was enthralled by the shiny tin ceiling panels.
Baraw’s warm smile and casual demeaner belies all the work it takes to run the two places, and he was quick to commend his excellent staff, without which he could not manage both. In addition to overseeing the operations of two bars/restaurants, Baraw works with his father-in-law at Del Tufo’s contracting business.
When asked how he does it, Baraw admitted, “Well, I don’t get a lot of sleep.”
Baraw acknowledges that it has been a lot, and the timing of Beau’s arrival coinciding with the opening of Slingers was not ideal, but he and Alex would not have it any other way. “It was only about a week after Beau was born,” Baraw related, “when Alex was ready to get back to the bar.”
Ludlow’s retail and restaurant scene are a moving target, but what Baraw knew before they opened Eight Oh Brew was that what the town could use was a casual bar. Eight Oh Brew serves 30 beers on tap, and boasts two pool tables, darts, and some classic video games.
The flood in July 2023 took Eight Oh Brew out of service for more than a year, and it was during that time when Baraw learned about the availability of the space at 190 Main, formerly occupied by Gamebird – a turnkey bar and restaurant right in the heart of town. Thinking they might need to relocate Eight Oh Brew, the family purchased the second building. Instead, the result was Ludlow getting not one, but two great places to meet up for a drink or a meal.
At Slingers, customers can shoot pool, too – there is a large table right at the entrance – or go a couple of rounds on Big Buck Hunter. Slingers is a welcome spot for families, who can grab a comfy booth or push together a couple of tables for a larger group. Kids can order the Lil’ Slinger or the Golden Nuggets.
Slingers offers a full bar and serves boozy shakes, which Baraw said are pretty popular. “The espresso martini shake is probably our best seller,” he reported.
The restaurant is open Tuesday through Saturday, from 2-9 p.m.; and Sunday, from 12-7 p.m. Baraw said they plan to remain open through the season, and eventually will do music and events. He is hoping to build an outdoor space in the alley next to the building, for use during warmer months.
The overall energy of Slingers feels casual and familiar; folks meeting up after their work shift or après ski, greeting friends and neighbors as they enter the space. It is a great, quick stop when passing through town as well. Ludlow is lucky to have the support of the Baraws and Del Tufos, and the feeling seems mutual.