Kent American Legion far from 'Shutting the Doors'

Like many businesses and organizations, the Kent American Legion post on Mogadore Road had a tough year financially in 2010.

But the group is far from shutting off the lights and closing the doors on the more than 20,000-square-foot club and banquet hall facility.

“Finances are tough," said John Wilson, a past commander of Post 496 and current vice commander. "There’s a lot of businesses that are facing financial difficulties. And yes we are facing some financial difficulties. Are we looking at closing the doors? No.”

Wilson said several people in the club's command structure and on the trustees board were upset with current commander Fred Allan, who they believe painted an inaccurate picture of the club's financial state in remarks published in the Record-Courier today. Allan also recently distributed a newsletter to the group's more than 500 members suggesting the legion post was closing.

Allan could not be reached for comment today.

"Over the years, there’s been a few things that have gone against us, the economy being one of them," Wilson said. "And in general business has been poor. But are we looking at closing the doors next week? Heavens no.”

Wilson said the actual number of rentals at the banquet facility in 2010 were down about 4 percent to 5 percent compared with 2009. And the amount of money spent on those rentals was down sharply compared with the total spent by groups and individuals who rented the hall in past years.

He said the legion found many businesses and agencies in Kent that traditionally rent the hall each year for holiday and other parties did not rent the hall in 2010. One example: the twice-yearly Bowman Breakfast events, one of which was held at the legion hall in recent years. Last year, organizers started to hold the event exclusively on the Kent State University campus.

Steve Kolar, owner of Special Moments Catering in Streetsboro, which manages the banquet hall rental and operations for the legion, said 2008 and 2009 were record years for the club's banquet operations, which started in 2002.

But already this year the legion hall has more events booked for 2011 than it did at this time last year.

Kolar, who caters hundreds of events annually in six Northeast Ohio counties, said banquet halls across the region saw a drop in business last year.

“Were hall rentals down a little bit last year? They were down a little,” Kolar said. "Which is understandable. They’re doing better this year than last year. Could we use more? I don’t care if it’s the best year. We could always do more.”

Wilson said the club has never been late or missed a payment on its mortgage for the property, and it's never fallen behind on property tax payments.

Last year, a gas well on the property started working and began providing free natural gas to the building as well as sending a portion of the royalty incomes to the club.

Still, the legion is asking members to help by making donations of between $60 and $100. And the legion is working with the College of Business Administration at Kent State to develop a marketing plan to increase exposure for the hall.

Wilson added that even the club's mortgage holder has a positive forecast for the group in 2011.

"We were concerned that 2010 was probably going to be a very bad year simply because of the way the economy took a dump," Wilson said. "But things are starting to look a little better, and we do have more bookings on file now than we did this time last year.

"So we’re hoping this economy is going to start turning around and that things in general are going to start turning around," he said. "I emphasize, we’re in no way being at the point of shutting the doors and walking away.”