The Buchtelite

Issue date: 4/22/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Melissa Dunfee Manny and his customers march past the Student Union on Friday.

The sun was high in the sky as Manny Nemer's clientele basis gathered under umbrellas in front of his self named bar, Manny's Pub, on Friday. Although 2:30 p.m. was early to be at the bar, nearly 50 people gathered in the 75-degree midday weather to stand up - or march, rather - for what they believed in.

It may have been for the beer, too.

Nemer, who has been the object of attention since his first refusal to sell his property for the InfoCision Stadium, decided to attract even more by organizing a march, protesting eminent domain.

"It's for the students," Nemer said. "They decided they wanted to do it."

The march was not only organized to protest eminent domain - Nemer also wanted to stress that the University of Akron was not helping him with plans to relocate.

"It would cost way too much for me to relocate," he said. "They are not factoring that into the sum they are offering me."

UA is currently offering Manny $1,048,000.

A range of clients from UA students to mother of five Jacqueline Kralovic began marching at the sound of the Rocky theme around 3:30 p.m. The line of protestors made their way down Exchange St, past the baseball field and directly through the center of campus, shouting "Save Manny's Pub!" and "Hell no, we won't go!"

Though they all had different reasons for protesting, some views of those involved were unique. Take Kralovic, for instance, who credits Manny's other property, Aroma Coffee and Tea, as the reason for her husband and five beautiful children.

"I saw my husband, Michael, sitting down while I was at the counter ordering while I was in college," she said. "We had met briefly at a friend's house before, but I actually talked to him for the first time here at Aroma."

Kralovic's children nodded in agreement - it was obvious they had heard the story before.

"We tell our children," she said. "It would be a shame to see this place go. I hope us being here helps."

UA student Allison Pallini also had an opinion about Manny's.

"Manny is the man," she said. "It's crap that they're making him leave."

Her friend, UA student Renee Friedel, agreed.

"If he's been here this long, they should do something to help him," Friedel said.

It was Manny, however, who had the last word.

"We're staying right here," he said.

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