At the conclusion of his State of the City speech on Thursday, Pottsville Mayor James T. Muldowney introduced a father and son who intend to buy a city landmark.
“The former Pottsville Club will soon be purchased by two longtime Schuylkill County businessmen,” Muldowney said before a crowd of more than 175 who nearly filled the club’s lower level. Muldowney gave his speech in the John O’Hara Room.
“The former Pottsville Club, the building was always part of Pottsville, and I really mean this when I say it, it’s going to remain a part of Pottsville. I’d like to introduce the new owners, Robert Maley and his son, Keith. Both were raised in the Pottsville-Saint Clair area,” Muldowney said.
Robert E. Maley, 76, was mayor of Saint Clair from 2010 to 2014. He resides in Port Carbon.
His son, Keith E., 40, is the president of Knight Security Systems Inc., Harrisburg. He resides in Harrisburg.
The two have committed to buy the property for about $230,000, City Administrator Thomas A. Palamar said Thursday just before the mayor’s speech.
“We’re going to turn the place into a catering facility where people can rent the place for birthday parties, events and wedding receptions. And we’re going to use a couple local, established caterers in the area that are approved by us. And we’re going to have a liquor license,” Keith Maley said.
“And we are going to hire some people from the area. We don’t know how many because we’re going to be catering out some of the food services, but we expect to hire about 12 people. We’re already interviewing people. They’ll be bartenders, a general manager, a banquet manager, waitresses, everything we need. And we’re going to hire local people, people who can put money back into community,” Robert Maley said.
“We’ve signed a sales agreement with them, but it’s contingent on several items that they’re clearing up. And I think they’ve gotten everything straightened out,” Palamar said.
Palamar anticipates settlement will be within two months.
The Pottsville Club opened at 100 S. Centre St. in 1888. In 1910, it moved to 314 Mahantongo St., according to “Joseph H. Zerbey History of Pottsville and Schuylkill County,” published in 1936.
On June 4, 1975, the Pottsville Club bought the 11.93-acre property at 201 S. 26th St., according to the online Schuylkill Parcel Locator.
The building there was erected in 1965, according to the parcel locator.
Palamar said it used to be a ski lodge.
The Pottsville Club closed Oct. 8, 2013, after 125 years in business. In February 2014, Miners Bank bought the property at a sheriff’s sale for $1,418.05. In December 2014, the bank donated it to the city.
Then, the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Pottsville accepted the responsibility of managing it and reported that upkeep would cost in the neighborhood of $50,000 a year. On the parcel locator, the authority is listed as the owner.
“We want to thank everybody. We’ve been working really close with the city. Everyone’s been great to us. We’ve been talking to them for a couple of months about the property and we’ve been working with them very, very closely. The maintenance guys have been doing a great job of keeping us informed of everything they’ve been doing to the property and maintaining it, and teaching us everything with regards to ongoing maintenance the place is going to be requiring,” Keith Maley said.
On Thursday, the Maleys offered some insights in what they plan to do with the former ski lodge and social club.
The facility will be open to the public as an event venue where you can rent the property to host birthday or anniversary parties, business meetings, political functions, weddings or any small to large functions, Keith Maley said.
He said they’re working with their lawyer, James C. Bohorad, on a sales agreement for the liquor license used at the former Maroons Sports Bar & Grill, 556 N. Centre St., which closed in early 2015.
Meanwhile, the Maleys are planning to conduct minor renovations to the former Pottsville Club, updating the facility to give it a fresh look.
“In the next month or two, we should be taking over the place,” Keith Maley said.
A name for the new business at the former Pottsville Club has not yet been chosen.
“We have a pretty good idea how the club was operated. I used to ski here back in the ’60s,” Robert Maley said.