Wilhagan's Grille & Tap Room Closes After Nearly 20 Years

Another staple of the Tuscaloosa restaurant and bar scene has fallen victim to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic -- Wilhagan's Grille & Tap Room will not re-open its doors after two months of state-mandated closure, former owner Bill Lloyd confirmed Wednesday afternoon.

Lloyd opened Wilhagans in 2001 and ran it for 16 years before selling the business to Robert Wildman, an entrepreneur who moved to Tuscaloosa in 2015 looking to get involved in the restaurant scene.

Since Lloyd passed the baton in summer 2017, Wildman has run the business's day-to-day operations, but Lloyd retained ownership of the downtown 4th Street property as its landlord.

Wildman could not be reached for comment Wednesday, but Lloyd confirmed that the restaurant will not be re-opening and declined to comment further. Lloyd directed questions about the future of the Wilhagan's food truck, which was still active Wednesday afternoon, back to Wildman.

I've spent many long nights at Wilhagan's shooting pool, playing trivia and buying far too many drinks. The Bama Burger (topped with pulled pork and barbeque sauce) was legendary, the chicken fingers never disappointed and if I didn't eat my weight in their nachos over the years, I definitely came close.

Like the Downtown Pub and the Levee Bar and Grill, Wilhagan's will be deeply missed. Let's hope it is the area's last coronavirus casualty.