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Stables Hall of Fame Grille might go to highest bidder
By Bill Lilley
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Monday, Nov 09, 2009
CANTON: Hany ''Mike'' Potroos will never lose sight of certain things about the Stables Hall of Fame Grille.
''It's the most unique building and most unique sports bar in the country,'' said Potroos. ''And it's in a great location in a great football town, right off Interstate 77 in Canton.''
But Potroos, who bought the football-themed sports bar eight years ago from former NFL standout and Stark County legend Chris Spielman, is afraid he is losing sight of what really should be important to him in his life.
That's why he is putting the historic 15,500-square-foot structure and an 0.85-acre land parcel up for auction at 11 a.m. Nov. 19.
The stables were built during World War I to house horses for Canton's first family, the Timkens.
''My family is something I really need to focus more on,'' said the Egypt-born Potroos, who has bachelor's degrees in chemistry and physics and taught in Egypt before moving to the United States. ''Running a restaurant is very rewarding, but the days are long.
''When I bought the restaurant, I was single. Three years later, I got married. Now I've got a 4-year-old son and a month-old daughter.
''It's time to focus on being a dad and husband. I'll probably go back to teaching, but I don't know at what level it will be.''
Potroos, who lives in the Cleveland area and is an American citizen, said he couldn't ask for more from the community.
''The support has been great,'' he said. ''I couldn't keep the place open for eight years if we weren't doing as well as we are.''
Potroos said he chose to put the restaurant up for auction because ''I have a friend who associated with the company doing the auction and I believe it's the fastest way to turn commercial real estate into cash.''
Robert Nieto of Midwest Properties of Hinckley will handle the auction.
It is not an absolute auction. Potroos set a reserve price, but said it was confidential. He said he has two mortgages with National City Bank.
''What I can tell you is that I'm asking a reasonable price, nothing like $10 million,'' said Potroos, who said the restaurant will remain open. ''My insurance company told me it would cost $5 million to rebuild this building.''
Potroos said the structure could be adapted to fit any kind of restaurant or professional building, ''but it is really best suited for a sports bar like it is.''
The Stables has 45-foot-high beams in the ceiling that were taken from the old Massillon High School gymnasium.
The building, which was converted into a sports bar by former Massillon standout Spielman in 1992, is generously adorned with about 150 framed and unframed football pictures and two large wood carvings depicting football action.
There are 12 NFL jerseys hanging from the rafters and 23 NFL helmets on posts.
Midwest Properties spokesman Denny Woods said the jerseys and helmets were installed by Spielman and are believed to all have been used in NFL games.
''It's a quality restaurant,'' said Woods. ''It's in a fully operational mode and on Oct. 26 passed all of the inspections.
''It's got great potential and we hope it strikes a responsive chord with somebody.
''Chris Spielman put the NFL stamp on the restaurant and it's still there today. And the historical aspect really sets it apart from other restaurants in general and sports bars in specific.''
On-site inspections for prospective bidders are scheduled for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. today and 3 to 5 p.m. Nov. 16.
Bill Lilley can be reached at 330-996-3811 or blilley@thebeaconjournal.com.
CANTON: Hany ''Mike'' Potroos will never lose sight of certain things about the Stables Hall of Fame Grille.
''It's the most unique building and most unique sports bar in the country,'' said Potroos. ''And it's in a great location in a great football town, right off Interstate 77 in Canton.''
But Potroos, who bought the football-themed sports bar eight years ago from former NFL standout and Stark County legend Chris Spielman, is afraid he is losing sight of what really should be important to him in his life.
That's why he is putting the historic 15,500-square-foot structure and an 0.85-acre land parcel up for auction at 11 a.m. Nov. 19.
The stables were built during World War I to house horses for Canton's first family, the Timkens.
''My family is something I really need to focus more on,'' said the Egypt-born Potroos, who has bachelor's degrees in chemistry and physics and taught in Egypt before moving to the United States. ''Running a restaurant is very rewarding, but the days are long.
''When I bought the restaurant, I was single. Three years later, I got married. Now I've got a 4-year-old son and a month-old daughter.
''It's time to focus on being a dad and husband. I'll probably go back to teaching, but I don't know at what level it will be.''
Potroos, who lives in the Cleveland area and is an American citizen, said he couldn't ask for more from the community.
''The support has been great,'' he said. ''I couldn't keep the place open for eight years if we weren't doing as well as we are.''
Potroos said he chose to put the restaurant up for auction because ''I have a friend who associated with the company doing the auction and I believe it's the fastest way to turn commercial real estate into cash.''
Robert Nieto of Midwest Properties of Hinckley will handle the auction.
It is not an absolute auction. Potroos set a reserve price, but said it was confidential. He said he has two mortgages with National City Bank.
''What I can tell you is that I'm asking a reasonable price, nothing like $10 million,'' said Potroos, who said the restaurant will remain open. ''My insurance company told me it would cost $5 million to rebuild this building.''
Potroos said the structure could be adapted to fit any kind of restaurant or professional building, ''but it is really best suited for a sports bar like it is.''
The Stables has 45-foot-high beams in the ceiling that were taken from the old Massillon High School gymnasium.
The building, which was converted into a sports bar by former Massillon standout Spielman in 1992, is generously adorned with about 150 framed and unframed football pictures and two large wood carvings depicting football action.
There are 12 NFL jerseys hanging from the rafters and 23 NFL helmets on posts.
Midwest Properties spokesman Denny Woods said the jerseys and helmets were installed by Spielman and are believed to all have been used in NFL games.
''It's a quality restaurant,'' said Woods. ''It's in a fully operational mode and on Oct. 26 passed all of the inspections.
''It's got great potential and we hope it strikes a responsive chord with somebody.
''Chris Spielman put the NFL stamp on the restaurant and it's still there today. And the historical aspect really sets it apart from other restaurants in general and sports bars in specific.''
On-site inspections for prospective bidders are scheduled for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. today and 3 to 5 p.m. Nov. 16.
Bill Lilley can be reached at 330-996-3811 or blilley@thebeaconjournal.com.
Comments
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WADSWORTH, OH
Posted 05:06 AM, 11/09/2009
How many horses can it hold?
My friend 'Krudweiser' (a retired budweiser Clydesdale) has money to burn and asked me to ask.
Norka, Oh
Posted 08:32 AM, 11/09/2009
"...3 years later I got married & now have a 4 year old son & a 1 month old daughter..."
Must be new math from the chemistry & Physics major.
Olmsted Twnp, OH
Posted 08:49 AM, 11/09/2009
"But Potroos, who bought the football-themed sports bar eight years ago from former NFL standout and Stark County legend Chris Spielman, is afraid he is losing sight of what really should be important to him in his life".
My family is something I really need to focus more on,'' said the Egypt-born Potroos, who has bachelor's degrees in chemistry and physics and taught in Egypt before moving to the United States. ''Running a restaurant is very rewarding, but the days are long".
''When I bought the restaurant, I was single. Three years later, I got married. Now I've got a 4-year-old son and a month-old daughter.
''It's time to focus on being a dad and husband. I'll probably go back to teaching, but I don't know at what level it will be.''
.... sometimes you need to read the article a little closer ...
Akron, OH
Posted 09:22 AM, 11/09/2009
@Rico Suave... The article states he has owned the restaurant for 8 years. After he had owned it for 3 years (5 years ago), he got married. Since he got married, he has 2 children - a 4 year old son and a 1 month old daughter. The math works out.
Green, Ohio
Posted 09:35 AM, 11/09/2009
Rico what are you saying? Do you see something wrong or just hoping to find something wrong. He indicated 3 years after buying the restaurant he got married. Now, and it indicated 8 years later, he has a 4 year old and a 1 month old. Whats the problem?
Green, Ohio
Posted 09:37 AM, 11/09/2009
Wow the spelling police and the math police are in full force today. The only problem is these police need to worry more about them self than anyone else.
Akron, , OH
Posted 09:40 AM, 11/09/2009
16 hrs a day !!!! And some green and you can be somebody....
Akron, Oh
Posted 10:03 AM, 11/09/2009
I'm not much of a sports fan, but it's a place everyone in Canton should eat at atleast once in their lifetime. Food is good and so was the environment. Support local establishments even if he is from Egypt he is still a local.
Canton, Oh
Posted 11:14 AM, 11/09/2009
I worked at the Stables when it first opened. I am surprised that it took this long for Potroos to drive it over the cliff. He, and Spielman before him, and NO IDEA how to treat employees or customers. I did not see a mention of the chef and his wife that we were told were the owners quite briefly. They actually cleaned up the filth in the place and hired people that did not look like they were homeless. I will be interested to see what happens to one of the few landmarks that Canton has yet to tear down.
Posted 11:47 AM, 11/09/2009
"...3 years later I got married & now have a 4 year old son & a 1 month old daughter..."
Must be new math from the chemistry & Physics major.
Rico, just read the article, he bought the property 8 years.
Posted 01:31 PM, 11/09/2009
Wrong time to be trying to sell a property. If it needs $5 million in improvements, it isn't going to get a bid. Should have done this 3 years ago!
Oh well, times change.....
Posted 01:45 PM, 11/09/2009
Hooray, another bar bites the dust!
Posted 01:54 PM, 11/09/2009
I am sure it holds lots of horses.
It was a nice restaurant a few years ago but it changed with so many owners. We used to go at least once a year to watch the Hall Of Fame Game. Last year we went to Cleats (loved it in Green) and this year I emailed The Stables about their hours and no email back so we stayed home and ordered food in.
Canal Fulton, Oh
Posted 02:14 PM, 11/09/2009
@Retired,,Hooray?? Wow..negative ned.
When I went to this bar,not to eat,but to drink,you could actually still smell the horses!!!!
neigh neigh neigh :-)
Minneapolis, MN
Posted 02:55 PM, 11/09/2009
Why is "and is an American citizen" relevant? To anything?
akron, oh
Posted 04:07 PM, 11/09/2009
Three years later, I got married. Now I've got a 4-year-old son and a month-old daughter.
So the son was born before marriage!!! This man is telling too much of his private business!!!
somewhere near you, OH
Posted 04:31 PM, 11/09/2009
Neat building, too bad it doesn't stand a chance of long-term success due to it's location.
Canton is looking like Ohio's answer to Gary Indiana more and more everyday.
Akron, OH
Posted 04:58 PM, 11/09/2009
@MaryAnn, you better go back and get a remedial math class.
Akron, Oh
Posted 05:52 PM, 11/09/2009
Once again, WHO CARES ABOUT THE STINKIN' MATH?? Would you people quit picking at details and see the forest for the trees? What is a crying shame here is that a terrific place to eat and socialize may disappear, along with a fabulous and interesting building. I don't care what his reasons are, nor do I care if you don't like bars, or the city of Canton - it's a pity to see yet another unique place to eat go under so that we can be overwhelmed by the massive amount of chains that seem to be all our fellow citizens care to support.
Akron, OH
Posted 05:54 PM, 11/09/2009
@ Question Authority
I couldn't agree more
Akron, Oh
Posted 05:55 PM, 11/09/2009
Will you people stop picking at ridiculous details? WHO CARES ABOUT THE MATH?? What the real shame here is that a unique place to eat and socialize is going to be gone. I don't care if you don't like bars, the City of Canton or Egyptians, what I care about is that we lose another local eatery, so that we can be overwhelmed by the massive amount of chains that seem to be all my fellow Ohioans will patronise.
Akron, OH
Posted 05:58 PM, 11/09/2009
$5M....LOLOLOL
I want what they're smoking....
If the auction reserve is more than 1/10 of that it won't move.
Anti-Politically Correct & Anti-GOP, OH
Posted 06:26 PM, 11/09/2009
100 bucks.
Canton, OH
Posted 06:48 PM, 11/09/2009
The Stables is sweet. . .
Hinckley, oh
Posted 10:36 PM, 11/09/2009
Some of you folks need to slow down and read the article again. He didn't say he wanted 5 mil to sell it , he said it would take 5 mil to REPLACE it. Big difference. That is the coolest place! I would like to turn it into a nightclub. Clear the lowest area for the dance floor. Put the DJ up in one of those balcony, light up that big ceiling...it would be the best and biggest club in Northeast Ohio!!!
CuyahogaFalls, oh
Posted 06:28 AM, 11/10/2009
I was born and raised in Massillon and used to go to Canton all the time. I remember when this was still a stable. Very unique place and still is. Chris and I both went to Massillon high and when he was still playing pro football he bought this place and put a lot of money into it to make it a restraunt.
The food was great and the atmosphere was inspiring as well. I hope who ever buys it will keep it open. It's defenitely a land mark for Canton.
Oh, by the way, Chris played for the Detroit Lions when he purchased this place. Good Luck Chris. I'm still a old Massillon tiger fan.
Kron, OH
Posted 01:26 PM, 11/10/2009
I did read the article. And I still say if the auction reserve is over 1/10 of that replacement cost it won't move. I'm assuming that union labor costs?? LOL....not that it matters.
It's a dinosaur. Dinosaurs are cool granted....but its still a dinosaur.
The folks that can actually afford to jump into something like this have that money because they are too smart to jump into something like this for anything but BARGAIN BASEMENT prices.
As much as folks are wishing....the bottom is CRE isn't here yet. It's going to get worse before it gets betters. Perhaps much worse....
akron, oh
Posted 10:32 PM, 11/10/2009
many of you need to re-read the story,. and think about what you are writing.
