Bar-hoppers looking to share a drink with former Nittany Lion great LaVar Arrington this weekend at the reopening of the Sports Café & Grille might be disappointed.
The expected reopening of the 244 W. College Ave. bar this weekend is marred with discrepancies related to the actual ownership of the bar and the status of its liquor license.
Arrington, a former Nittany Lion linebacker, and his group, F.A.M.M. LLC, were planning to reopen the bar as "Linebacker U Sports Café," said Francesca Chapman, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) Deputy Press Secretary.
But Arrington said "the rug has been pulled out" from under him by the bar's former owner, Kevin Anderson.
"They're trying to ride off hype of me coming there," Arrington said this week. "They got a bunch of free publicity, and they are trying to ride off of that to make their place hot, which is bogus."
Anderson and other partners hope to reopen the bar this weekend for the first football game after making renovations to the establishment, said Lori Sowash, State College Borough health inspector. Anderson was in the bar on Tuesday during an inspection, Sowash said.
As of Thursday, the outside of the bar had been painted a slate gray color, the inside a cream color, while black trim lined the walls and new stainless steel bar stools sat in a group by the bar.
Despite repeated attempts, Anderson was unable to be reached for comment. Anderson's lawyer, Raquel Price, said the Sports Café is reopening. She also said she could not comment on whether Anderson is behind the reopening or if Arrington is a partner.
AJ Madden, who would not disclose his involvement with the bar, was working at the site Wednesday and said the bar will open "very soon" and will be called "Sports Café Bar." He also said "both the owners are very visionary" but did not know if Anderson or Arrington were the owners behind the reopening.
Arrington said discussions between he and Anderson about the sale and purchase of the bar began about six months ago. Negotiations progressed to a final closing meeting on the property held about three weeks ago at Nittany Bank, Arrington said.
Anderson never appeared at the closing, Arrington said, adding Anderson has since been unreachable by phone.
Price, Anderson's lawyer, said she had no comment to Arrington's remarks.
She also said she could not comment on Arrington's assertion that he has nothing to do with the current renovations and reopening.
"At this time, we'll say that as far as the deal goes, negotiations are still in progress," Price said.
Rosalyn Pugh, Arrington's lawyer, said Arrington and Anderson both signed a purchase agreement, detailing the transfer of the liquor license and the rights to the property's lease.
Arrington plans to take legal action against Anderson "under the purchase of assets agreement and take any other legal remedies that might be available to him based on the breach of contract," Pugh said.
Arrington plans to take legal action within the next seven days, Pugh said Tuesday.
It was always Arrington's intention to become sole owner of the bar, not to enter into a partnership of any kind, Pugh said.
The former Sports Café & Grille closed in December after being sued by National Penn Bank for $464,324.96 for violating the forbearance agreement.
On May 28, the PLCB received the application for transfer of the liquor license to Arrington's group, F.A.M.M. LLC. Since then, the transfer has neither been approved nor unapproved, Chapman said.
As it stands, without the liquor license, neither Anderson nor Arrington can serve alcohol at the establishment, Chapman said.
Arrington was selected second overall in the NFL draft in 2000 by the Washington Redskins and was named an All-Pro for three consecutive seasons. He retired in 2007 from the league, after an injury-marred career.
