Welcome to DinkLife! Today, we’re uncovering the history of a building many recognize as Coventry Elementary School, but before that, it was a thriving entertainment hub Jackie Lee’s Entertainment Center where even the Chippendales once performed!
Jackie Lee’s first phase opened on August 15, 1984, featuring Comet Lanes, a state-of-the-art bowling alley, alongside an adjacent bar and grill. The full 120,000-square-foot complex was set to open that fall, bringing 210 new jobs to the area. Built at a cost of $2 million, the center was developed around the former Maddox’s Fabulous Furniture Store, which had occupied the 10.5-acre site from 1957 until its closure in 1981. Akron developer Vincent Tisci, owner of Lockhart Construction Co. and Ti-Bert Systems Inc., purchased the property. Tisci also owned two Canton bowling alleys Eastbury Lanes and Park Center Lanes.
Named after Tisci’s wife, Jackie Lee’s Mall was an ambitious project. Once completed, it featured a 1,000-seat restaurant, a 400-seat banquet hall, 40 bowling lanes with cutting-edge digital scoring, a pool hall, an arcade, and 14 specialty shops, including a sporting goods store, a clothing boutique, a computer store, and an optometrist’s office. The entertainment complex even had a round dinner theater for live performances. With a bold color scheme of purple, blue, and magenta, it was a modern hotspot. By the mid-’80s, Jackie Lee’s expanded further, adding an outdoor pool and volleyball courts. Wes fondly remembers his mom taking him there for summer swims as a kid. From boxing and WWF matches to kickboxing, talent shows, and live bands, Jackie Lee’s brought entertainment to Coventry for about five years.
However, trouble loomed. In early 1990, Ohio Savings Bank filed foreclosure on Jackie Lee’s due to a $2.4 million mortgage debt. Tisci declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy, attempting to reorganize, but with over $5 million in total debts, the situation was dire. During foreclosure, only Comet Lanes and Portage Lakes Fitness remained open. In 1992, Ohio Savings Bank tried auctioning off the property but rejected the highest bid of $1.4 million.
By 1993, Coventry Schools saw an opportunity. They explored converting Jackie Lee’s into a high school, keeping the bowling alley and fitness club open to generate revenue. A $4 million loan secured the deal, a bargain compared to the $30 million price tag of a new high school. However, hopes of the bowling alley and fitness club funding the school fell short, draining district funds instead. By 1998, Coventry’s deficit had ballooned to $1.3 million, but open enrollment brought in 750 students, securing $2.7 million in state funding.
In 2011, the bowling lanes were repurposed into classrooms. By 2013, a levy was approved to construct a new high school, officially converting Jackie Lee’s into Coventry Elementary School where it stands today.
Do you remember Jackie Lee’s? Share your memories in the comments! Got any quirky Summit County history ideas? We’d love to hear them. If you enjoyed this video, be sure to like and subscribe for more fascinating history content. Thanks for watching, and remember to get out there and explore!
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