FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

January 10, 2020

Contact: Mitch Vingle

t: 304.905.6005
mitch@wheelhousecreativellc.com

Statement on closing of Ye Olde Alpha from Anthony “Herk” Sparachane

WHEELING, W.Va. — Wheeling businessman Anthony “Herk” Sparachane of Wheeling Coin has
confirmed the closing of Ye Olde Alpha at the behest of former owner Charlie Schlegel after
attempts to fix problems at the site.
Sparachane said an agreement was in place to keep the Alpha open through the holidays and
that Wheeling Coin would take over Feb. 7. However, the Wheeling-Ohio County Health
Department shut down the restaurant Tuesday because of water in the crawl space beneath
the structure.
“We tried to get it reopened,” Sparachane said. “The problem is the water came back. We
pumped many gallons of water out, but it kept coming back. Finally, Charlie said he’d had
enough and was tired of it. He decided to close.”
Sparachane bought the Alpha at auction and is planning a refurbished restaurant six to eight
weeks after the Feb. 7 date.
Aside from the water, updates will include a new roof and kitchen, a remodeled dining room
and restrooms, fixed plumbing in the basement and a resurface of the parking lot.
The bar is still set to reopen Feb. 18.

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