CLEVELAND — The staff at one Ohio bar is embracing an old NFL rivalry.
It’s time for a good time at Sichko’s Pub ‘n Patio with bartender Al Harris, who brings the energy.
“I love all the people that come in here. I love making fun of them. I love just enjoying the whole atmosphere in the bar, like everybody in here I love when they come in here because they make me laugh and they make me feel young,” said Harris.
Harris is a Browns fan in Conneaut, a city on the Pennsylvania line with many residents split between the Steelers and Browns.
“It gets a little wild when I get in here because I don’t know how to shut up,” Harris said with a laugh. “That’s usually how it gets.”
The division in town can be found among customers, but also with the staff.
“I was born and raised here. I know everybody. They all come in and show me love and support and what not,” said Tony Santiago, a bartender and Steelers fan.
He’s happy to be at Sichko’s, even if it means serving Browns backers.
“I think it would be kind of boring if we were all the same team, honestly. It’s something to root for every year. If we were all the same team, we’d be like ‘go team’ but we get the Browns and the Steelers and we’re looking forward to it every year,” said Santiago.
As we get closer to the showdown for fans on the state line, Sichko’s will be cooking out for the game and welcoming fans, no matter which team colors they bleed.
“To be honest, it’s usually friendly. Like I said, once I get here it gets a little personal because they don’t want me here because I got a loud mouth. But (for the most) part it’s friendly. Everybody’s like family around here, we get a long,” said Harris.
A rivalry that’s vicious on the field but in this bar, it’s plenty friendly off of it.
