Renovated sports bar opens on Kent’s East Hill

Bruce Schultz has passed this way before.

He once ran a sports bar in Federal Way, but left the tavern scene to work as a employment recruiter for 16 years.

Then he got a call from a longtime friend, Brad Locke, and they decided to get back in the bar business. They resuscitated the former Classic Bar & Grill on Kent’s East Hill behind a major renovation effort that stretched more than three months.

The hard work has brought new life and a fresh name to the place.

“I love it. This is fun,” Schultz said of his acquisition, the 6,200-square-foot Clubhouse Sports Bar and Grill, 10432 SE Kent-Kangley Road. “It doesn’t feel like work to me. I enjoy mingling with people, serving people and establishing relationships.”

The Clubhouse, which opened in February, features a dozen 50-inch plasma TVs and a pair of 60-inch TV screens flashing various sports network coverage. The place is spacious, with room for darts, pool, pull tabs and parties.

It also features one of the largest beer gardens on the East Hill.

The Clubhouse has a full-service kitchen that supports a breakfast menu, along with lunch and dinner specials. The bar flows with 16 taps of beer. There are daily drink specials.

The Clubhouse hosts trivia nights, karaoke, beer pong, promotional nights and live music on Saturday nights.

It is open 10 a.m.-2 a.m. daily.

For more information, visit www.clubhousesportsbarkent.com.

Elsewhere

• OMAX Corporation, a Kent area manufacturing company, recently was the site for three live television broadcasts on CNBC that were then combined into a full-length feature story on the NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams.

All four segments, which aired on March 8, focused on the booming U.S. manufacturing industry and how manufacturers like OMAX are challenged to find sufficiently trained workers to meet increased production demands.

CNBC reporter Phil LeBeau broadcasted live from the OMAX demo lab and from the company’s manufacturing area where it produces its abrasive waterjet cutting systems. LeBeau’s first report was during the CNBC program Squawk Box, his second on Squawk on the Street and his third on Street Signs. LeBeau then prepared and presented the full-length story titled “Help Wanted” on NBC Nightly News.

Each of the three CNBC segments and the NBC report included footage of OMAX machines and of interviews with OMAX employees, including OMAX CEO Dr. John Cheung.

• Kent native Shannon Wing (pictured) recently joined Rawle & Henderson’s Philadelphia law office as an associate. She will focus her practice in the areas of bankruptcy and business finance.

Prior to joining Rawle & Henderson LLP, Wing was an associate with the firm of Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP in its New York City office.

Wing earned a bachelor of science degree, with distinction in psychology, from the University of Washington in 1998. She received her J.D. (Juris Doctor), with honors in litigation and dispute resolution, from Boston University School of Law in 2001. While attending law school, she was the director of the Esdaile Moot Court Program and on the staff of the Journal of Science & Technology Law.

• ProTect Painters, a growing franchise that is backed by international multi-brand franchisor Service Brands International, has opened a franchise serving the local area.

With the housing market and general economic climate continuing to encourage people to keep versus sell their existing property, professional painting contractors are in high demand, according to Charles C. Reger, ProTect Painters owner.

“People throughout Covington, Auburn and surrounding communities are always searching for new, affordable ways to freshen up their property,” Reger said. “ProTect Painters has a trusted reputation across the country of providing home and business owners with exceptional value and the highest level of customer service. We look forward to bringing this to the greater Auburn, Covington market.”

ProTect Painters is a professional painting contractor franchise specializing primarily in exterior, residential painting projects.

For more information, visit www.protectfranchise.com.