Lillith Dunn, Editor-in-Chief
eSomethin staff
Since its opening, O’Deer Diner has been a local Perrysburg staple. Known for serving ice cream and hot dogs, as well as for hosting an annual Friday evening car show, the business has been a summer hot spot for families and friend groups alike.
In June of 2025, however, owners Rick and Dana Ruffner announced that they would be selling the shop after 15 years in order to retire. This announcement left the community in shock, many wondering what would become of the diner after its owners left. Then, after an auction, O’Deer was sold for $250,000.
The new owners? Locals Alexa and Ben Farley.
Alexa Farley grew up in Pemberville Ohio, attending Eastwood High School and later on Bowling Green State University where she met her husband, who went to Anthony Wayne.
“I taught kindergarten for about six years . . . then I have been a preschool teacher at Perrysburg First United Methodist,” Farley explained, later mentioning she took a break from teaching to raise her four children.
With her husband in finance, and her teaching full time, neither truly expected to end up buying O’Deer. Farley stated that at the time, she wasn’t sure if she wanted to stay at First Methodist, leading to a lot of stress.
“I didn’t know what to do . . . and one day I was talking to my husband on the phone and . . . I just blurted out ‘we should buy O’Deer’.”
The spur of the moment statement went farther than Farley expected, with her husband signing them up for the auction almost immediately once they returned home. After a long and stressful process, the couple won the auction, receiving O’Deer and the car show rights with it. After getting O’Deer, Farley decided that she wanted to ultimately keep the business the same, with a few external changes.
“It was great before, but I also didn’t want to feel like I was running someone else’s business. . . . But also we don’t want to change a lot of things because the community expects a certain standard here,” said Farley, gesturing to the newly-painted interior.
Along with decoration changes, new menu items have been added as well. These include desserts such as polar coffee (an ice cream and cold brew mix), as well as ice cream nachos for sharing.
Despite opening rather recently, Farley has already been busy getting O’Deer to run smoothly.
“I try to come in between 8 and 9 in the morning and . . . I do the cash register . . . and then I get all the food ready for the day, so a lot of food prep.” This prep includes heating up the food, starting the ice cream machines, and, on Tuesdays, restocking after deliveries.
Of course, this take over hasn’t been completely smooth, but the Farleys still have a great group to guide them through the process.
“Rick and Dana have been with us every step of the way. They have been so wonderful . . . so if we have questions they are always there to help us,” Farley said.
The best part of the job for O’Deer’s new owners? Simply being able to get more involved with their community. With their kids being involved in many activities, such as rowing, Farley has been excited to give more support to things she couldn’t before.
Being part of the library’s summer reading program has also been something Farely has loved, stating, “the kids come in and they’re so excited to get their free kids coupons. I just love being part of the community.”
Even with a change in management, O’Deer isn’t going anywhere.
“We don’t really intend to change things a ton . . . I just love seeing the impact that we have on the community and part of the school too,” Farley concluded.
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