Release Date: November 7,2023
Eddies on Main Street Celebrates 30 Years of the Eddies Brand
November 7, 2023, Akron, Ohio — Eddies on Main Street is throwing a big celebration on Saturday, November 18, 2023, commemorating 30 years of the Eddies brand doing business in the Akron area. The date also marks the three-year birthday of Eddies on Main Street which opened on November 28, 2020. Ed Sutter, owner of Eddies on Main Street and 1981 graduate of Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, reflected saying, “it’s such a very special day for Eddies, my career, and the journey. Not everyone can say they survived 30 years in business. These last few years with all the challenges make it even more special.” Details of the celebration are noted below.
Sutter launched the Eddies brand in September of 1993 with the opening of Eddies Pizzeria on Brittain Road in Goodyear Heights. Eddies Pizzeria was a 50’s style pizzeria that caught on quickly and amassed a loyal following that grew dramatically. Sutter eventually opened a second Eddies Pizzeria location in 1996 in the Ellet neighborhood on Mogadore Road. As time went on, Eddies business took hold. In late 1999, Sutter made the decision to pivot to the catering and event business. He sold his properties, launched Eddies Catering full time, and took over a property in Barberton, Lake Anna Hall, in January 2000.
Eddies Catering evolved and grew. It eventually became Edward’s Creative Catering to better suit their imaginative menus and event design. Edward’s outgrew the property in Barberton and moved to Broadview Heights in 2004 to a dramatically larger property he coined The Imperial Event Center. With ballroom seating of 400 and nine acres of outdoor picnic area, Edward’s could accommodate large weddings and major corporate events. Edward’s added Grills & Thrills BBQ and Events as a corporate and private picnic division. Their grip on the market grew, and they competed multiple times nationally in event and design which eventually garnered them a 3rd place distinction in competition amongst the top event producers in the United States in Washington, D.C. They catered to a Who’s Who list of corporate clienteles in Akron and Northeast Ohio. Sutter made a very ambitious decision in 2006 to negotiate a deal to take over operation and ownership of Akron’s legendary Tangier restaurant. He was simultaneously operating the Broadview Heights property. His company grew to 140 employees and 14 managers. Sutter had a vision for a complete overhaul of Tangier. He made significant improvement in catering and event execution. He brought Las Vegas style cabaret back to prominence with 90 events in 2007. However, with much capital needed to execute his vision, Sutter was unsuccessful in convincing area developers of his plan and made the decision to return the operation to the George family. It was a financial setback. During this decade run of catering and events, Eddies Cheesesteaks made appearances at area festivals.
While Sutter was still operating The Imperial Event Center in early 2008, he made the decision that would ultimately change the whole trajectory of his business. He made a trip to Florida to feature his cheesesteaks at a major event in Daytona. Sutter returned to Florida in 2009 and did a five-city tour of Eddie’s Famous Cheesesteaks, as it was now rebranded. Panama City was one of the stops. He learned of Panama City Beach spring break, and it was a major find. Eddies debuted at spring break in March 2009 and became a fixture at this mammoth gathering of college kids from all over America. A “phenomenon” would best describe their near decade run to the point of earning a mention on the Travel Channel as a “must have” at Panama City Beach spring break. Three years in, Sutter thought, “man, these kids are going crazy over these cheesesteaks; maybe I should do something in Akron.” Eddies Famous Cheesesteaks, the concept, was born in 2011 and opened at the Corner of Main and Exchange streets adjacent to the Zar Nightclub in downtown Akron. Eddies had a tremendous run at the Zar and their following started to rapidly grow. They opened a four-season run in 2014 at Canal Park, home of the Akron Rubber Ducks. Eddies quickly became the highest volume outside vendor in the ballpark. The lines stretched for three sections. Again, their fan base expanded; but unfortunate circumstances with the Zar Nightclub forced the closure of the nightclub and subsequently Eddies at the Zar in 2018. A decision loomed immediately. While Sutter wanted to relocate, he was concerned about the looming Main Street construction. He launched the Eddies Pop-up Tour with his mobile unit, and it was wildly successful and reached new areas.
In early 2020, Sutter felt the timing was right for a new brick and mortar location on the nearly completed downtown Akron Main Street. He negotiated a new space at 147 South Main Street, and then Covid hit. He wasn’t deterred. Eddies on Main Street opened on November 18, 2020, during the height of Covid. Eddies weathered this storm in 2021, and then the challenges of the social unrest in the summer of 2022. Eddies on Main Street has thrived in 2023 as well as the massive success of his award-winning food truck. Eddies has truly become Akron’s legendary cheesesteaks. Sutter notes, “many people thought I was crazy to carry on and open amidst Covid. It was challenging, to say the least; and then all the concerns in the summer of 2022. I’m very proud that not only did we survive, but now we are in a great place moving forward and have major plans for kitchen expansion”. Another passion led Sutter to launch the Four-Leaf Clover Foundation in 2015 in memory of his sisters, Michelle and MaryAnne. Since its inception, the Foundation has raised in excess of $125,000 for its charity partners and local cancer fighters.
Sutter invites the entire Akron area community to come together and celebrate the three-decade celebration at Eddies on Main Street on Saturday, November 18, from Noon to 8:00pm. Lots of big fun all day! Free birthday dessert for all. Tons of giveaways; special live performances in our heated tent out front with Figure 8, featuring Scott Alan (Humble Pie, Donnie Iris), and Paul Wolf Christensen (Michael Stanley) from 4:00-6:00pm; followed by Girl Kelle and Boy Johnny from KC & Company from 6:30-8:00pm. Ice cold beer will be available for purchase with proceeds benefitting the Four-Leaf Clover Foundation. The kickoff of the Eddies Downtown Akron Scavenger Hunt commences on the 18th, and the celebration will be your only opportunity to get your scavenger punch card. Lots of huge prizes up for grabs. Here’s a link to the event and all the scavenger hunt details. https://facebook.com/events/s/eddies-3-decade-celebration-pa/311883568262343/ More surprises are developing. It will certainly be a fitting celebration for three decades of Eddies!
Eddies Famous Cheesesteaks, at 147 South Main Street, features the original and fresh variations of Akron’s legendary cheesesteaks, fresh seasoned hand-cut fries, slammers, gyros, and so much more.