The crew of The Lounge is pictured above. In back, from left, are Lisa Stone, Jamie Brown, Sarah Russell, Fred Mayer, Meg Mayer, Julie Murray, John Hayes. In front is new owner Diane Sochia. Photo submitted by Fred Mayer.
BY MATT LINDSEY
North Country This Week
POTSDAM — It should be no surprise that the new owner of The Lounge is one of its own.
Fred Mayer, who has owned the business since 2001 with his wife Meg, is selling the business to Parishville native Diane Sochia.
No changes are expected other than the person signing the checks, Mayer said.
Ownership may change hands, but the faces often remain familiar at the bar.
John Hayes, who owned the bar prior to 2001, still works as a bartender there.
Lifelong ties like this are part of what made Sochia want to own the tavern.
Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name may by lyrics, but they are also words that have meaning.
Sochia compared The Lounge to the popular 1980s TV show “Cheers” in that when someone walks through the doors they are treated to a reaction similar to fictional character Norm Peterson or Cliff Clavin.
“It’s a fun place to work … it’s like family,” she said.
She said patrons are all “characters” and that everyone there knows each other well.
“It’s a fun bar that everyone knows,” she said. “When Norm comes in, that’s how this bar is.”
The business change becomes official Monday, May 8.
“I am pushing 70 years old and I’ve had it 22 years, it’s time to move on,” Mayer said. “I am going to retire for once in my life and take it easy,” Mayer said.
Sochia purchased Mayer’s food truck, Pastime, last year and had been working at The Lounge bartending as well.
“It was great times and great employees,” he said. “I appreciate all the business.”
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