Lear Road Businesses Trading Spaces in Avon Lake

Two businesses are looking to relocate on Lear Road with the  expanding and moving east across the street to the space occupied by . The ice cream shop is moving west across the street into the space formerly owned by the Good Neighbor thrift shop. That shop moved north to a building on the corner of Lear Road and Electric Boulevard several years ago and the building, owned by developer Bucky Kopf, has been vacant since.

Michael Liptak owns the ice cream store and building that carries his name. He has been in discussions with Stop 45 owner Tom Curry.  Both spoke at the Avon Lake council meeting May 2. Council will need to approve the transfer of Curry’s liquor license from Stop 45’s current location at 182 Lear Rd. to 153 Lear Rd.

Curry said the move was intended to expand his business and the menu.

“I’m very limited in space there,” Curry said of his current location. “My current mix of business is 95 percent liquor and beer and 5 percent food and that’s because there is no kitchen space.”

Liptak’s space, which he expanded several years ago to sell sandwiches and soup, would provide the needed space.

“I’m more than doubling the square footage available,” Curry said.

Curry said he is seeking to create more of a restaurant atmosphere and less bar. He hopes to increase his food/liquor balance to 40/60 percent.

Liptak said he has talked to neighbors on the east side of Lear Road and has not received any negative feedback about the bar moving over. The plans were reviewed by planning commission last month which placed restrictions on live music on the patio as well as times the patio can be open.

“It would be open until 11 p.m. on weekdays and midnight on Friday and Saturday,” Liptak said. “We’re hoping this will work for Mr. Curry; he owns a decent business. We’re doing our best to make this a nice place.”

Curry's new location would include some upgrades to the property. Liptak said the apron would be expanded and the parking lot repaved.

The Stop 45 Tavern has existed for decades. Curry has operated the establishment since 2001.

Just what happens to the old Stop 45 building if the plan is approved remains to be seen. Robert Wedell, owner of , owns the building, which is next door to the bar.

“I don’t know what the plan is for that building after we leave,” Curry said, noting that there were limited liquor licenses available. If a new bar were to move in, they would need to obtain a new liquor license.

A representative for Avon Lake Plumbing would not confirm if there were new tenants, saying only "the building is being updated."

Whether the new location, which would actually back into the Stop 45, retains its name as “Stop 45 Tavern” remains to be seen. Curry said he liked the nostalgia but remained non-committal on the name.