The Monroe News | GAME TIME! Arcade among new stores to open at local mall

Tyler Eagle | The Monroe News | July 12, 2021

When playing an arcade game, David DeSloover Jr. said there is a code players can almost crack in pursuit of beating their previous score.

But when it comes to pinball, there is a level of skill needed as each game is unique within itself.

“You can learn all the rules behind a pinball machine, but because you don’t know where that ball is going, there is skill (needed) for each game,” David said. “Every single game is different. That’s what’s so exciting about pinball.”

David and his wife, Leeann DeSloover, are the owners of ULEKstore’s Pinball and Classic Arcade.

The couple that has been married for 30 years recently opened the venue at the Mall of Monroe, debuting a destination that houses dozens of pinball machines and arcade games.

Marked by sounds and lights unique to an arcade, the business features machines modeled after various pop culture staples, including Star Wars, X-Men and Dr. Who.

The arcade’s name is inspired by the family’s business: ULEK, which is short for Unique Laser and Engraving Keepsakes, Inc., which also sells pinball mods and arcade parts.

The DeSloovers grew up playing pinball and have been longtime gaming collectors. As pinball and arcade games have experienced a resurgence in popularity in recent years, they were inspired to bring a new destination to their hometown.

“Pinball kind of disappeared for a good ten, twenty years,” David said. “… We decided the community was lacking in places where families could go, and that’s kind of how this idea came about.”

For years, the DeSloovers had been kicking around the idea of opening an arcade to more widely share their passion for pinball. They had previously been in contact with members of the Mall of Monroe’s management team about occupying vacant space in the retail center.

When the management team reached out again this year, mall representatives expressed a desire to draw more traffic and enterprise to the property, especially as life returned to a semblance of normal following COVID-19 restrictions.

While the idea of opening a venue on the tail of a pandemic was terrifying, the DeSloovers said they still wanted to proceed, particularly since it had been a years-long choice in the making.

“We knew we didn’t want too large of a space,” David said. “It all just kind of came together at the right time. … (Mall management) called and said, ‘We want to get the mall going again.’ They told us we would be a perfect fit.”

As more people received vaccinations and restrictions were lifted, the DeSloovers said they recognized that like them, many people were eager to return to social interactions. It took the couple about two months to get the new venture up and running.

“We were dying to go out and see people, even though we have pinball machines at home,” David said. “We like to socialize. We crossed our fingers and said a lot of prayers, hoping the pandemic had run its course and folks could go out again.”

Leeann highlights that the arcade is a great place for families to go, which is something the DeSloovers think can benefit the community.

“There isn’t a lot in the community that caters to kids,” she said. “Hopefully, this is something families will see as something for kids to do.”

The staff cleans and sanitizes the machines regularly. Leeann said there are enough machines for people to social distance if that makes them feel more comfortable.

“You can keep your distance and enjoy yourself,” she added.

Leeann said they also have ten machines that are housed at Beeks Bar & Grille in downtown Monroe.

David said the arcade’s offerings are constantly rotating, swapping out older titles for new ones. The business also buys and sells machines, often restoring them. With a dedicated physical space, David said he hopes to keep such games available locally.

“Once we restore machines, instead of selling them we would like to put them back into the community,” he added.

Leeann’s favorite machine is the Dr. Who game. David’s favorite is the pinball machine America’s Most Haunted, which is the newest in the DeSloovers’ collection.

He and Leeann acquired the game from a basement, where it was rusted and in disrepair. It’s a relatively unique game, David said, adding that only about 150 exist worldwide.

“We spent a lot of time and money and effort getting that machine back together,” he said. “Now it sits right next to a new pinball machine and you can’t even tell the difference (in their age). … The playfield on it is amazing. It looks better than something like Star Wars or Iron Maiden.”

It’s such an experience and game that fuels his love for pinball.

“It’s so fast and furious and the call-outs are great,” David said. “I keep wanting to do one more game — I just want to get to that final mode. That’s why I enjoy pinball so much.”

David said he wants the arcade to be interactive and reflective of the community. He encourages customers to reach out and let the DeSloovers know what titles interest them.

The response the arcade has received so far has been heartening, the DeSloovers said. Players have travelled from across the region and even visited from out of state. David said the pinball machine community is a dedicated one.

“The pinball community is one of those communities that when you share things online, there is a lot of excitement around it,” he said. “… Because we are so enthusiastic about pinball and arcade games, when you see families come in and enjoy time together, there is nothing better than that. … We’ve had people say this is like their own personal game room.”

Leeann said the business hosts tournaments every other Saturday, which draws up to 30 or 40 people. They also plan to start a pinball league for area youth, serving kids ages 5 to 13, later this year.

“After working all day, you can come in and take your mind off work and normal every day life,” Leeann said.

For more information, check out ULEKstore’s Pinball and Classic Arcade on Facebook or Ulekstore.com.

 

The Monroe News | Flashback features antiques, vintage, homemade items

Tyler Eagle | The Monroe News | July 12, 2021

When Ann Craig returned to her hometown of Monroe after years of being away, she was struck by the vacant storefronts in the mall.

The 29-year-old, 2010 Jefferson High School graduate said the shopping center had once been the central hangout spot for local teens.

So when looking for a place for her business, Craig said the space at the Mall of Monroe was affordable and more important, she wanted to help contribute to the venue’s revitalization.

“I figured the space would be perfect and I want to help bring life back to the mall,” Craig said.

Last month Craig opened Flashback Crafts and Antiques, which sits in a storefront formerly occupied by a Gamestop video game store.

Flashback serves as a retail space that curates and manages vendors who contract with Craig’s business.

Currently, the business has about 25 vendors who rent out space at Flashback to display their goods.

Collecting booth fees, Craig and her team manage the sale of goods and vendors’ inventory. For an additional fee, vendors are also able to drop off their merchandise, and Craig and Flashback employees tag, price and handle the marketing of the products.

“Vendors can just style and sell their crafts, antiques and handmade items … and we handle the complicated stuff,” Craig said. “Vendors can have the fun part of just setting their stuff up and handle the rest — they can just sit back and relax. It’s great for (vendors) who work typical jobs with longer hours.”

For those with smaller collections or just a few things to sell, Craig said her shop has a consignment model. The commission is a little higher, but her employees handle everything after the item is dropped off.

Craig said much of her business is guided by an old saying: Grandma gave it to your mother, your mother gave it away, and I bought it back. Learn more

Craig’s love of unique items began in her childhood. Her father was a scrapper, and she’d often accompany him around town as he worked.

“I would always be interested in the things people would have lying around and what they wanted to get rid of,” she said.

Craig said she saw a market for recycled and used goods. She had previously planned to launch an event company modeled much like a traditional dating service.

But the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent regulations limiting social gatherings prompted the young mother to pivot.

An entrepreneur, she said she’d often sell things online on popular resale sites, such as eBay, Poshmark and Mercari. Noticing that the resale market was continuing to grow, she also was surprised by how many people wanted to sell things, but were hesitant to do so because they didn’t have the space for such a business.

Inspired to combine her experience in marketing and love of business, she conceived the idea for Flashback.

“I knew there were a lot of vendors out there who wanted to sell,” Craig said. “… I help them build up their business.”

Craig said she has been pleasantly surprised by how quickly her business has grown, as well as the shifting demographic of the store’s customers.

The target audience originally had been women age 35 to 60 who were looking for thoughtful gifts or unique home decor. But Craig said she has seen a more eco-conscience generation of customers begin to come through the shop, who have exhibited a keen interest in vintage clothing and records.

“If you are buying older, well-preserved things, you are helping to save the environment,” Craig said. “You cut down the cost of labor and materials that go into producing (more goods).”

The store also handles selling some of the vendors’ items online, too. And it plans to grow, Craig said, adding she is eyeing moving into a larger space in the mall by the end of the year.

Such a move would enable the store to display furniture pieces and larger home decor items, she said.

“I really want to create a space where people can sell things, providing an umbrella-type resale store that has a bunch of different items,” Craig said. “I want to be able to provide a physical location for people like me who would rather go and physically touch and see something before they buy it.”

For more information, visit www.flashbackantiqueandcrafts.com or the business’ social media channels. 

Here stand champions: Eagles feather their nest with accolades

Eagles feather their nest with accolades | JUL 2, 2021
NATHANAEL HAWTHORNE | Reporter
nhawthorne@tribtoday.com

Bishop David Bonnar of the Diocese of Youngstown speaks at a ceremony honoring the 2021 Ohio state champion Warren John F. Kennedy Eagles baseball team in the main court of the Eastwood Mall Thursday morning. The team was honored by the mall and the Cafaro Company for beating Van Wert Lincolnview 4-0 last month. The Cafaro Foundation donated $10,000 to the school as well. Seated are Joseph Kenneally, JFK president; William A. Cafaro, Cafaro Company co-president; and Warren Mayor Doug Franklin.

 

NILES — The 2021 John F. Kennedy state championship baseball team was honored Thursday at the Eastwood Mall for its 4-0 victory in the title game over Van Wert Lincolnview.

Ten of the 11 athletes were on hand to be honored.

“It’s been a great feeling. Everyone in the community has rallied behind us and they did the whole way to state,” JFK junior and the Eagles’ first baseman Aidan Rossi said. “It’s a great feeling coming back and representing the city with a state championship.”

Going into the season, the team had the bare-minimum 11 players allowed by the Ohio High School Athletic Association and the odds were stacked against it the whole season. Head coach Jim Ciambotti, in his rookie season at the helm, said a tough regular season schedule helped prepare the team for what was coming in the playoffs.

“We believed from Day One we could match up with anyone in our division and that goes back to our schedule. We tried to play harder teams in other divisions,” Ciambotti said. “We saw a lot of great pitching and thought we were battle-tested going into the playoffs.”

The weeks that followed the June 13 victory, Ciambotti said, have been “a whirlwind.”

“Obviously we accomplished a great thing and the kids deserve it, and the school deserves the recognition,” he said.

Rossi said the ceremony at the mall was surprising.

“Everyone is super excited about it and happy to be representing the community,” Rossi said.

The Cafaro Company hosted the event and company spokesman Joe Bell said the point is to show community appreciation for accomplishing a tremendous feat.

“The whole purpose is to honor the athletes and let them know the community is proud of them,” Bell said. “We love to honor student athletes whenever they win a state championship.”

To honor the athletes, Bishop David Bonnar of the Diocese of Youngstown, Warren Mayor Doug Franklin and Cafaro Company co-President William A. Cafaro all took time to address the team.

“It’s been six months that I’ve been in Youngstown as a bishop. I’ve had many firsts and this is a first I will never, ever forget. I can’t wait to come back next year and do it again,” Bonnar said. “I want to say to you, your coaches and everyone who supported you how proud I am of each and every one of you and how thrilled I am to be here today. You have made history.”

Franklin recalled giving a similar speech after the JFK football team claimed a state title in 2016.

“I said it in 2016 in the gym celebrating the football championship — how ’bout them Eagles?” Franklin said to the more than 50 community residents in the crowd. “Congratulations to all of you guys. We are so very proud of you and we will be back here again. … This team was undermanned but never outworked. People counted you out but you reflected the spirit of our Valley — don’t ever count us out, we will rise to the occasion every single time.”

Before addressing the team, Cafaro presented the school with a $10,000 donation.

“We are so proud of your accomplishment and everything you stand for,” Cafaro said. “We want to give back to the community and particularly with such an accomplishment like a state title. We did the same thing when they won in football in 2016 and we wanted to keep that tradition alive.”

Bell explained the check can be used for anything the school may need.

“The Cafaro Company likes to make a donation to every school. The donation can be used for whatever they need, no strings attached,” Bell said.

From an administration standpoint, high school Principal Alyse Consiglio, Athletic Director Al Gregos and JFK President Joe Kenneally said the state championship win is the perfect cap to the school year.

“If you knew any of these kids personally, they are two- or three-sport athletes, they’re on National Honor Society, they do it all. At a small school like Kennedy, that’s really what it’s all about — it’s the quality of the kids who are able to be well-rounded,” Consiglio said. “Those kids are super special, and I know they have the tenacity to take on what an entire team can.”

Gregos said the ceremony is rewarding and heartwarming.

“It was a very trying year and our kids never complained,” he said. “They never wavered. They believed in themselves and it was a huge thing for them to win.”

Kenneally said despite only having 11 kids on the team, they played bigger.

“These kids don’t believe in being an underdog. They went out there and those 11 kids … played like they were 22 strong,” Kenneally said. “These moments are once in a lifetime.”

Rossi said, however, the work starts now for a repeat.

“The goal is to win another title,” he said.

nhawthorne@tribtoday.com