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‘I Love This Bar, It’s My Kind Of Place’

Those of you who know me, know by now, that I’m a routine person. I set my goals, perimeters, likes, favorite things to do, and though I’m not against trying new things, I’m just as happy staying in my comfort zone.

That being said, I enjoy going out with my bride, and with family, and/or friends, and we sometimes end up finding other family and friends, even some people we don’t even know who are at the same place as we are doing the same thing that we’re doing. For the most part, there are three local places where we enjoy doing most of what we do. Many know my preference to what I call the Cheers of Jamestown, a. k. a. The Pub. I’ve been a patron of the Pub from April of 1971, and it never gets old, no matter how many times a week, month, or year we frequent the place. I’m also a fan of the Lakewood Rod and Gun Club, especially in summertime, when it’s nice to sit outdoor and enjoy a sandwich and a couple libations while listening to local musicians, and sharing good conversation, laughs, and re-connections with friends and/or family. The third place we enjoy going, is the place we call The Wadd, a.k.a. Waddington’s Tavern.

As many know I’m the president of the Browns Backers of Jamestown, NY, a charter member of the Browns Backers Worldwide, and have been for circa 17 years. We’ve had some great places that took us in as viewing establishments for our club. The Marco Polo Club and their officers took us into their establishment, as did Thom Shagla at Shaggies in Bemus Point, and Jim Mee at the Game Time Sports’ Bar and Grill. They all were amazing viewing establishments for our group. About 11 years ago though, some of our members knew of a place on Main St. in Falconer, called Waddington’s Tavern, owned and operated by Jeff Waddington, a die-hard Cleveland Browns Fan, and they thought it might be a good place to go for games. On a Thursday night, Buzz Montagna and I went down to Waddington’s to talk to Jeff and see if he might like to become our viewing establishment. The best laid plans…you know the rest… came true as when we got there the bartender told us he was next door at McCarty’s Restaurant having dinner with his nephew. Not wanting to waste a trip, Buzz and I went into McCarty’s saw a guy in a booth with a youngster, and after asking him, while he was eating, if he was Jeff, we sat down in the booth with him and his nephew and asked him if he might be interested in hosting our group on Sundays and prime time dates of the NFL Season. Jeff quickly, and emphatically, said he’d love to host our club and be the Official Viewing Establishment of the Browns Backers of Jamestown, NY. With that, we decided to not take any more time from his meal, so Buzz and I went back to The Wadd, had a cocktail, and started talking about ideas which we’d bring up in a day or two with Jeff as what we all could do together to make this partnership become a reality.

It didn’t take Jeff long to welcome us, and through the many visits to the Wadd before our new season was to begin, we bounced all kinds of ideas on and off the walls of Waddington’s Tavern. Flash forward to the present, we’ve set new records in membership the past 2 seasons, and our group has exceeded $30, 000.00 in donations to local charities and groups and the Browns Foundation in Berea OH. We’ve had three Club sponsored dinners featuring local persons who were residents of Chautauqua County and played at one time or another for the Browns (wish Gentleman Jim McKusker R.I.P could’ve joined us too), or played for the Browns at one time and were now working in this area. We opened a Rummage Rack at Waddington’s where our members have brought in items of clothing or memorabilia they wanted to donate and we sold them to help with our fundraising efforts, and held a number of successful raffles, as well. This was all done within the open doors of Waddington’s Tavern by Jeff Waddington.

In the years we’ve become very close friends and we found out what an amazing person was Jeff Waddington. To say he’d give you the shirt off his back if you ever needed it, would be an understatement. Jeff would open the bar on days like Christmas Eve, or Thanksgiving, etc., but would be closed at certain times on those days for his family to come in, dine, and celebrate, and he always invited people he knew were going to be alone on those days, so they could celebrate too. He sponsored so many events to help bring people together to have fun and raise money for kids and school teams and classes, he’d have envelopes, sometimes three or four at a time with tickets to sell to customers helping many groups give as much as they could to kids and other community programs. Jeff’s dad, Jack passed away about eleven years ago, and Jeff’s son, Jack was born 10 years ago, and with all due respect to the name Jack, Jeff was a true “Jack of All Trades” to everyone who set foot in his home away from home.

Sadly, and suddenly, Jeff shockingly passed away on June 13th of this year. When we got the word, we were stunned, and when we relayed the sad passing, all we told were equally as stunned. I immediately thought of the ringtone I used, and will always keep, to know I was getting a call from Jeff or Waddington’s. It’s the title of Toby Keith’s (R.I.P.) hit song, I Love this Bar. The lyrics of the song described what kind of place it was and why people wanted to spend time there.

We got winners

We got losers

Chain-smokers and boozers

We got yuppies

We got bikers

We got thirsty hitchhikers

And the girls next door dress up like movie stars

Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, I love this bar

We got cowboys

We got truckers

Broken-hearted fools and suckers

And we got hustlers

We got fighters

Early-birds and all-nighters

And the veterans talk about their battle scars

Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, I love this bar

I love this bar

It’s my kind of place

Just walkin’ through the front door

Puts a big smile on my face

It ain’t too far

Come as you are

Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, I love this bar

I’ve seen short skirts

We’ve got high-techs

Blue-collared boys and rednecks

And we got lovers

Lots of lookers

I’ve even seen dancing girls and hoofers

And we like to drink our beer from a mason jar

Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, I love this bar

(Yes I do)

I like my truck

I like my truck

And I like my girlfriend

I like my girlfriend

I like to take her out to dinner

I like a movie now and then

But I love this bar

It’s my kind of place

Just toein’ around the dance floor

Puts a big smile on my face

No cover charge

Come as you are

Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, I love this bar

Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, I just love this old bar

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Toby Keith / Scotty Emerick

The streets of our community are a little emptier today, with the passing of Jeff Waddington. Prayers and condolences to all of his family, friends, anyone who knew him because they did, and anyone who didn’t know him because they didn’t. Yes, the streets of our world are more empty, but Main Street in Heaven just got busier and more crowded. Rest In Peace, Boss! We love you.

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