It’s a date that holds special meaning for those living in the 330 area code.
And this March 30th marks Akronites’ first opportunity to venture into former Tangier since the LeBron James Family Foundation took over the iconic entertainment complex.
The transformation is ongoing and work has been in progress since the sale in 2020.
The foundation plans to open the doors for a sneak peek to the public on March 30 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for a special 330-day celebration featuring food trucks like Swenson’s Drive-In, Kinetic Vegan, Cheezylicious Food Truck and Cleveland Cookie Dough, along with tours of the Three Thirty house.
“House Three Thirty is for the entire community, so it’s important to us that we open our doors and share what we’re building while the renovation is underway,” said Michele Campbell, executive director of the LeBron James Family Foundation. “We are very excited about the opportunities, jobs and experiences House Three Thirty will bring to our I Promise families and all visitors.
“It will be transformational for our community and we can’t think of a better way to celebrate the 330th day.”
Exclusive:Take a look at LeBron James’ bar, restaurants and more in old Akron Tangier
If you haven’t visited West Market Street yet, you’re probably driving right past Old Tangier, as you probably won’t recognize the place.
It looks a little less spiffy with its new earth-toned exterior color, and the iconic Moroccan dome is gone, too.
Conversion of the old Tangier:Tangier’s iconic dome was demolished and discarded
And the changes are even more dramatic inside.
The only thing that is still known is the legendary cabaret. The interior of the entertainment room is being restored, but the furnishings and decor remain the same.
The Foundation plans to use the venue as a gathering place for I Promise School and Program students and their families. And as in the past, once House Three Thirty goes live, it will host public concerts and speaker space.
When that happens remains to be seen as workers continue to renovate the sprawling venue. The goal is for many of the restaurants and attractions to open sometime next year.
Part of the premises is already open and hosts events.
Smucker Hometown Hall’s event and rental space has hosted a number of weddings, parties and graduations.
It has also hosted events for the foundation, including a reunion for Akron School teens during NBA All-Star Week in Cleveland.
And recently, work was completed on The Taco Shop by Old El Paso, which hosted a Taco Tuesday event for I Promise children and their families.
The restaurant is expected to open to the public once work on the other spaces is completed next year.
Part of the foundation’s goal with House Three Thirty is to provide retail and dining services to the public while providing job training and employment opportunities for partner families.
All of this complements the JPMorgan Chase Community Space, where bankers offer financial advice and products to support the financial health of Akron families.
Plans call for a candy store that will sell Northeast Ohio products from Mitchell’s Ice Cream, Metropolis Gourmet Popcorn, Norka Beverages and Malley’s Chocolates.
MainStreet Advisors and Lobos 1707’s private club The Den is available for business meetings and special events. LeBron James partners with tequila brand Lobos 1707.
House Three Thirty will also be home to a yet to be named community model cafe.
The basement will house the LeBron James Museum at Upper Deck, which will tell the story of the NBA superstar from his childhood days in public housing in the Spring Hill neighborhood to his years in St. Vincent-St. Mary High School throughout his professional career, including championships in Miami, Cleveland and with the Los Angeles Lakers.
The ticketed attraction will also house James’ staff Memorabilia from his eventful sports and business career.
In addition, work is underway to create a LeBron James-style sports bar that will be open to the public.
All of this is supported by a 10,000-square-foot kitchen — believed to be one of the largest of its kind in northeast Ohio — being built literally from the ground up in old Tangier.
Craig Webb can be reached at cwebb@thebeaconjournal.com.
details
What: 330 day in the house three thirty
When: 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. March 30
Where from: House 330, 532 W. Market St., Akron
For more: Visit https://www.lebronjamesfamilyfoundation.org/