ANDOVER – A book signing, fond memories and good cheer were all part of the 12-year anniversary celebration of the Andover Town Tavern Saturday, June 6, in Andover.
Lil’ John, the co-host of Cleveland TV’s long-running “Big Chuck & Lil’ John Show,” was on hand for the event signing copies of his book, “Lil’ John: Laughing My Way Through Life: Stories from an Accidental Career on Cleveland TV – and More!”
The author, whose formal name is John Rinaldi, was happy to be at the tavern, which was jammed full of people for the celebration.
“These are my kind of people,” he said. “They like me.”
He said they watched him on television growing up.
“Life couldn’t be any better,” he said.
Lil’ John said his book is about his life.
“And TV was a big part of my life,” he said, noting the book covers television and his family.
“There’s a lot of stuff,” he said.
The information on his book’s Amazon page notes that Lil’ John “has spent a lifetime making people laugh – including three generations of fans on Cleveland television every Friday night.”
It continues: “He also wrestled bears … crashed a hot-air balloon … fought heavyweight champ Mike Tyson … played the bongos with heavyweight champ Larry Holmes … and was almost killed by Elvis impersonators … all while helping to raise millions of dollars for charity and winning several Emmy awards. And that was just in his spare time!”
The information notes that Lil’ John “made a huge impact on Cleveland’s popular culture over four decades with his jumbo-sized personality and small physical stature.”
Lil’ John states, “Having a sense of humor and not taking myself too seriously have always been important to me – especially at four feet three inches tall. I’ve learned to roll with whatever life throws at me and always find a reason to laugh.”
According to its website, Andover Town Tavern has been “a staple destination point in NorthEast Ohio” since around the 1940s.
Sharon Demshar and Nate Koleszar, the current joint owners, were celebrating their ownership of the business for the last 12 years.
“We’re just basically a hometown tavern,” Demshar said. “We love the community. We love the people.”
Head bartender Katelyn McGuinness said it was exciting having everybody around to celebrate the anniversary.
She was impressed by the tavern’s longevity.
“It’s been here a long time,” she said, noting it has good food, cold drinks and even better friends.
She compared it to the TV show about the famous Boston bar, “Cheers.”
“It is the Andover Cheers,” she said.
Lisa Walenchok said she and her husband, Brian, who were from Pittsburgh, had been camping in Andover in the summer when they ran across the tavern, which made them feel like home.
“And they took us in like we were part of their family, and we actually moved up here,” she said.
Lynne Hussing of Andover has been coming to the tavern for 30-plus years.
“It’s homey,” she said. “You know everybody.”
She liked the food and atmosphere at the tavern. Her husband, Elmer, plays on a pool league team there.
Patrick Toth, another patron, said his parents had been coming to the tavern since the 1960’s. He moved back to Ohio in 2020 from New York City and has enjoyed the tavern ever since.
“It’s like a family,” he said. “It’s always been a very welcoming place.”
