Shuffleboard, food and games at Erie Social
DANBURY TOWNSHIP – Need to get out of the house for the evening? Has rain ruined your plans to spend the day at the beach? There’s an option for those looking for indoor activities in a vintage-inspired setting.
Just shuffle on over to the Erie Social Shuffleboard Club and Bar, now open in the Safe Harbor development at 5686 E. Harbor Road in Danbury Township.
Owner Jim Miketo, of Lakewood, was inspired by a 17,000-square-foot renovated warehouse in Brooklyn, New York — now called the Royal Palms Shuffleboard Club — while he lived in the area.
He decided to open the first indoor club for Ohio, choosing the area for its proximity to metropolitan areas and big following for shuffleboard, including aficionados in Lakeside.
“Anyone can play it. It’s a fun competitive sport. It’s not strenuous,” Miketo said.
The theme for the 8,500-square-foot space is reminiscent of the 1940s and 1950s, shuffleboard’s heyday, Miketo said. His wife, Kari, helped design the space using black-and-white striped fabric for the cabanas, potted palms along the courts and string lights.
Local artist and entrepreneur Jerry Davenport hung a large mural of classic shuffleboard promotional photos on the north-facing wall.
Featuring six deck courts, two table shuffleboards, space to relax under the cabanas, a fully stocked and serviced bar with craft beer, board games, and life-size Jenga, Miketo said he wanted to create a space where everyone can have fun and relax.
In an area with harsh, never-ending winters, Danbury was the perfect place for a year-round indoor court, Miketo said. He said the business will host fall and winter shuffleboard leagues, with the summer league kicking off just last week.
In addition to the myriad games to play, the club has a gourmet deli and coffee shop, also tying in with the vintage New York City theme with bottled sodas and fresh, handmade deli sandwiches.
“We’ve got some good meaty sandwiches,” Miketo said. “Roast beef, Reubens, turkey, ham. We want it to feel like you’re in Brooklyn picking up a sandwich for lunch.”
The deli also is open to customers just looking for a bite to eat. Who knows, you might stick around to play a game or two.
jdenton@gannett.com
419-734-7506
Twitter: @jessicadentonNH
Want to go?
• What: Erie Social Shuffleboard Club & Bar
• When: 4 to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 4 p.m. to midnight Friday, noon to midnight Saturday and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday.
• Where: The Safe Harbor Plaza on Ohio 163, 5686 E. Harbor Road, Lakeside Marblehead.
• FYI: Cost is $6.50 per person for an hour or $25 for a group of five for an hour. For more information, call 419-960-7894 or go to theeriesocial.com.