About the Captain's Club

The following article is taken from the News Herald

Keeping Wind in Their Sails

No, the Captain's Club is not a private club.

And, no, the Eastlake restaurant, 34820 Vine St., is not affiliated with the Lake County Captains, who play Class-A baseball across SOM Center Road.

That's not to say the proximity of the restaurant to the stadium was a coincidence

Six partners -- Tom Ackerman, Rich Cunningham, Scott Fisher, Jim Iacano, and Donnie and Paul Lazar -- opened Captain's Club July 17 [2003] after a nine week renovation that transformed a former auto parts store into an "upscale casual" restaurant and bar.

The breakneck pace was necessary to get the restaurant open while crowds were still filling Eastlake Ballpark, Fisher said. Because the team went to the playoffs and nearly won the league championship, the restaurant got plenty of exposure before the Captain's season ended.

"There's a lot of taverns around," Iacano said. "We wanted to pick it up over and above a tavern."

Fisher agreed.

"We have everything from a burger to a filet," he said. "Our prime rib is our specialty."

The Captain's Club is adjacent to stadium parking, allowing baseball fans to park once, see a game, enjoy a meal and never move their cars.

Since the season ended, the restaurant has remained busy as customers come back for favorites like the prime rib and extra-hot stuffed banana peppers.

Captain's Club has six [42"] plasma-screen televisions aroudn the dining room that have become popular with patrons who want to watch football on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

Sports fans also have gravitated to the three Full Swing Golf Simulators in a back room. Fisher said the simulators have already drawn enough regular interest for leagues, and players can choose to match skills or try their luck on realistically rendered courses such as St. Andrews, Bay Hill or Pebble Beach.

The simulators cost $30 per hour, and a foursome can normally complete 18 holes in four hours.

Fisher said there were initially some misconceptions about whether the restaurant was open to the public because of its name, but word is spreading.

The team and city were supportive of the new restaurant, he said.

"The interest in the Captains I don't think is going to go anywhere any time soon," Fisher said.

"Eastlake is becoming a focal point now."

The backgrounds of the partners all played a role in getting the Captain's Club up and running.

Fisher and Iacano were experienced in the restaurant and bar industry.

Donnie and Paul Lazar own Lazar Brothers Landscaping and Construction, Ackerman owns T.J. Ackerman Homes, and Cunningham owns Lake County Electric.

The partners have been friends for years and all graduated from North High School in Eastlake.

But customers have come from all over, particularly during baseball season. Fisher said out-of-town baseball fans are inclined to find a restaurant before or after a game.

"Right now we're doing ood, but it only gets better once the games happen," he said.

The restaurant's hours are 11am to 11pm Monday through Thursday, 11am to midnight Friday and Saturday, noon to 11pm Sunday. The bar is open until 2am.