40 Years Reflection: Haidaris Transitioned to Entertainment

WARREN, Ohio – Ken Haidaris, one of the Mahoning Valley’s major concert promoters, started working at his family’s Sunrise Inn when he was in high school and never left. He took over from his father in 1984.

Back then, the area was distressed.

“Now I think this area has rebounded tremendously,” Haidaris says. “It’s nice to see the highs and the lows go to highs. We’re on a very good path here.”

He’s tried to maintain tradition at the restaurant.

“Because the world’s changing so quickly, people are tired of things not being the same,” Haidaris says. “So we’ve kept a lot of things the same there.”

But technology has changed some restaurant operations with computers easing front-of-the-house functions and social media aiding with promotion.

Today, Sunrise is more of a regional destination than a local restaurant. “That was my intention simply because I was afraid that the local economy was not in the greatest shape,” Haidaris says.

“Transitioning through the challenges of the local economy and surviving” has been difficult, “because quite frankly, a lot of places didn’t make that transition,” he says.

Haidaris moved into the entertainment business, working with Marty Cohen, owner of the former Mickey’s Army Navy in Warren.

“Being naive sometimes is good,” he says. “We thought, ‘Hey, we can do this.’ Marty knew the music aspect and the sound and I was more financial on the contracts and things of that nature.”

People were supportive. They yearned for something positive coming out of the financial crisis of the time. It took off.

Then Haidaris got a call from a childhood friend who’s a Broadway producer and he started doing shows flike “Mamma Mia” and “Jersey Boys.”

From there, the business branched out even more. Local developer Mark Marvin reopened the Robins Theatre, providing another venue.

“I truly believe downtown wouldn’t be what it is without him,” Haidaris says of Marvin. “He was really the solidifying force. He was the catalyst.”

Haidaris also joined forces with Tom Simpson, owner of Kent Stage.

“Tom has a lot of great contacts in the music industry and Tom books a majority of the shows,” he says.

The renovated Robins Theater opened in 2020, shortly before the pandemic.

“People used to say, there was nothing to do in our area. I don’t think they can say that anymore,” Haidaris says. “Because there’s so much entertainment, whether it’s here or in Youngstown … I mean, you can go to Cleveland, Pittsburgh, but there’s a lot of options here.”

Pictured at top: Ken Haidaris took over his father’s business in 1984.

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.