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Stow's Damon's Grill closes its doors

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October 28, 2009

by Mike Lesko

Associate Editor

Stow -- When Damon's Grill closed its doors Oct. 19, it was the third food-service business near the new Stow courthouse to do so in the previous five weeks.

Rico Latte shut its doors Sept. 15, and Quiznos went out of business Sept. 30.

Local officials are blaming the ongoing road construction work in the Route 8/Steels Corners Road for the failures of the Steels Pointe Drive businesses.

"[Damon's was] furious with the roadwork, saying it was killing their business," said Stow Municipal Court Judge Kim Hoover. "[The road construction] has been quite a burden. People were saying it is tough to get here.

"Damon's was a surprise," he said. "I had not heard about that in advance. With the other two, they said in advance that their sales had dropped off."

Denise Reinert-McKeown, of Columbus-based G&R Management Services, which represents Damon's, did not return calls for comment.

Work on the Steels Corners Road and Route 8 area began in 2008, which included improvements to the southbound entrance and northbound exit of Route 8 and widening of Steels Corners Road and Hudson Drive.

Paving of Steels Corners Road was completed Oct. 21, said Jim McCleary, assistant city engineer, and Seasons Road will be widened and resurfaced next year.

Mayor Karen Fritschel said the road construction "really hurt those restaurants."

"It is a tough situation," Fritschel said. "Sadly, people just couldn't get there. But we needed to widen the road."

Damon's Grill was located at 4200 Steels Pointe Drive, while Quiznos and Rico Latte were both at 4161 Steels Pointe Drive.

"I am very sorry," said Cindy Smith Lewis, executive director of the Stow-Munroe Falls Chamber of Commerce. "We has such great hopes for all those restaurants."

Damon's was built in 2002, according to Summit County tax records.

Lewis said Rico Latte was one of the first businesses to move into the Courthouse Commons shopping strip, previously known as Steels Pointe Plaza.

She said Rico Latte was there at least three years, and Quiznos moved in shortly after Rico Latte did.

At Quiznos, a hand-written sign from its staff thanked the "best customers."

At Rico Latte, a type-written sign posted for customers read the closure was due to "changes in the economical and political environment ... Experienced difficulty in competing with larger competitors. ... Truly appreciate your support of Fair Trade and the social justice it provides to the world."

Calls to officials with Rico Latte and Quiznos were not returned for comment.

The road construction has hampered another local eatery.

"It definitely has affected our business," said Rob Moskalski, bar manager at TGI Fridays, 4300 Lakepointe Corporate Drive, Stow. "We hear that from a lot from customers and employees."

Hoover said he has been told that two food-service businesses are interested in opening near the court.

"This is a good location for food-service businesses," Hoover said. "I don't have any doubt that this area can support them, but the businesses need a highway."

Fritschel said, "I am hopeful that once this roadwork is completed, other restaurants or coffee shops will go in there."

E-mail: mlesko@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-686-3917




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