The owner of The Lockview, a longtime grilled-cheese haunt and bar on South Main Street in downtown Akron, says the place is hanging on by a thread after months of disruptive construction and climbing costs. Owner Danny Basone has cut staff, shut down lunch service, and launched a GoFundMe to cover overdue bills as he tries to keep the lights on. “I put in my dues to see the community thrive,” Basone told reporters while asking neighbors for help.
Owner’s Plea And A Fast Crowdfunding Jolt
As reported by Cleveland.com, Basone, 63, said the restaurant, which began as the Lime Spider, slashed staff from about 53 workers to 14 and paused lunch service to trim expenses. He told the outlet that unpaid back taxes have put his liquor license in jeopardy even as he sends payments to the county. Basone rolled out a GoFundMe on April 17, and the campaign has pulled in more than $13,000 so far, according to Cleveland.com.
Construction, Costs And A Downtown Squeeze
Local reporting and business owners say drawn out downtown construction has chased away much of the weekday foot traffic, while higher food and fuel prices have eaten into already thin margins. Basone has said overall costs are up roughly 20% this year and that delivery platforms take steep commissions, a one-two punch that forced staff cuts and a slimmed-down menu, according to the Akron Beacon Journal. Neighbors and fellow South Main restaurateurs have been blunt about the strain.
City Says It’s Listening, Hopes Summer Crowd Helps
The City of Akron told News 5 Cleveland that officials meet regularly with downtown businesses and remain committed to working with owners on issues within the city’s control. City leaders and business boosters are banking on the reopening of Lock 3 and other summer projects to help bring people back to South Main.
A Music-Soaked Fixture Turned Grilled-Cheese Hub
The Lockview sits at 207 S. Main, according to the Downtown Akron Partnership, and brands itself as “home of the gourmet grilled cheese.” The space first made its name as the Lime Spider, then was reworked into The Lockview in the 2000s, a transition chronicled in local coverage of the venue’s history by Cleveland Scene and area directories.
Liquor License At Risk If Tax Bills Pile Up
Basone and his fundraiser materials warn that overdue property and business taxes could eventually threaten the restaurant’s liquor license if they are not cleared. He says he is making payments in an effort to head off that outcome, as local coverage has noted. No county tax office or liquor regulator enforcement action has been publicly announced to date, and any formal move would involve both local and state agencies.
Neighbors and regulars have begun stepping in. The GoFundMe shows roughly $13,181 raised toward a $14,000 goal, and customers and nearby businesses have chipped in donations or boosted the campaign. Basone, who has run venues on South Main for decades, casts the appeal as a short term lifeline while he pushes for broader attention to downtown’s post construction recovery. For details and to donate, see the campaign on GoFundMe and reporting by Cleveland.com.
