In a town that traces its roots to the 1880s, when the railroad first came through and the post office was established in 1887, there are fewer businesses than there once were. But on the edge of Amherst, one longtime gathering spot continues to draw a crowd.
Todd’s Tavern, known to most simply as Todd’s, has become a steady presence on Front Street. Owned by Todd Martins since 2001, the tavern blends small-town history with hearty meals and a calendar full of community events.
The building itself has a storied past. Local amateur historian Don Tisher said the site has housed a bar for as long as he can remember.
“Before that, in the 1930s, it was a bank,” Tisher said. “When it later became a tavern, different businesses even used the old bank vault as a pop cooler.”
A look back through old yearbook advertisements shows the evolution of the business over the decades. At various times it was known as Amherst Tavern, Bob’s Tavern and Sandy’s Tavern. For a number of years it operated as Moxie’s, a name still remembered by longtime residents.
“People always joke that at Moxie’s, if you could see over the bar, you might as well be a customer,” Martins said with a laugh.
Immediately before Martins purchased the business, it operated as Juelfs Roadhouse under Richard and Elaine Juelfs. Martins, who previously worked with livestock and at the vet, said his motivation for buying the tavern was simple.
“I wanted to be my own boss,” he said. “And I’ve always enjoyed creating new food items and trying different things.”
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