Celebrate Big Fun At Grog Shop Event

From Grog Shop: When it was announced in the beginning of 2018 that Big Fun would be shuttering the doors of its’ Coventry store location after 27 years in business, the outpouring of love from admirers and patrons was overwhelming. Everyone who had visited Coventry Village in the past three decades inevitably had a story about the beloved shop, and just as remarkable to them as the vast collection of memorabilia on the shelves, was the impresario behind the toy empire, Steve Presser.

Presser, who lives with his family just blocks from the former store, has always been a larger than life character in the community, from lending a helping hand to other merchants on the street, eating at Tommy’s or frequenting shows at Grog Shop. He is a founding member of Heights Arts as well as involved with Future Heights and Reaching Heights. “I love Coventry and I love art. Coventry will always be my home,” Presser says. That’s one of the reasons that with the help of the Coventry Village Special Improvement District [CVSID], a Public Art Fund was established with money earmarked for public art works in the Coventry Village District.

Presser will host “Pressapalooza” at the Grog Shop (2785 Euclid Heights Blvd) on August 25th, 2018 with doors at 7:30 pm and show at 8:30 pm. A portion of the $10 in advance/ $15 day of show ticket will go to benefit the Coventry Village Public Art fund. Performing will be Mo’ Mojo,Cats on Holiday AND Blue Lunch with Carlos Jones. More info is available here.

“We have always come up with creative art ideas. We started years ago, with a collaboration between Heights Arts and CVSID where we installed the Coventry Peace Arch sculpture in Peace Park by the Coventry Library,” Presser explains. Since then the art fund has contributed to the tie-dye street signs designed by Raymond Bugelski for Hampshire and Lancashire Roads, 59 ornamental planters created by Brinsley Tyrell and benches along Coventry.

There continue to be big plans for the future and thus Presser is motivated to leave behind a legacy for Coventry Village despite Big Fun’s move. “[A percent] of proceeds from the Big Fun T-Shirt sales was donated to make a $2500 contribution to the CVPAF in addition to a generous donation by Kirk Montlack. […] It is important to continue to enhance the existing beauty of Coventry Village and I think public art is a wonderful way to do it. I hope that the next project will be a huge mural in Coventry Village.”

“This night of music with Cats on Holiday, Mo’ Mojo, Blue Lunch and Carlos Jones, would have been exactly the 3 bands that I would have wanted!,” Presser says. “All 3 bands have played in our backyard at house concerts. All 3 bands are my favorites and are friends as well. Adding Carlos Jones, just takes it to another level. Each band is comprised of incredible musicians. Each has some tie in some way to Coventry. It will be an evening of indigenous Coventry Music. I am humbled and honored by Pressapalooza...We all will have a good time and hopefully raise some serious money for CVPAF."

Image via Grog Shop