From About Magazine | September 2009
By Lisa Reicosky | Photos By Julie Botos
The votes have been tallied and the readers have spoken in About magazine’s first Readers’ Choice awards. We asked you to tell us about all the best Stark County has to offer. Some of your choices are surprising, but most have a solid foundation in Stark County culture.
Like the famous Bittner at Taggarts Ice Cream parlor, which has been around for about 80 years, or the rectangle-shape pizza at the Pizza Oven, where it’s not uncommon for former Cantonians to order their pizza on their way up Interstate 77 when returning to visit the city.
But have you ever heard of The Hitmen? How about the Sandpit Lounge?
Surely you’ve been in downtown Canton on the first Friday of the month and seen jugglers and musicians on the street or heard someone spontaneously burst into song.
Come on, Stark Countians, when was the last time you visited the Pro Football Hall of Fame? What’s the old saying? If you haven’t been there lately, you haven’t been there.
The following announce all of the winners of the first About magazine Readers’ Choice awards.
Bender’s Tavern: Best Place for a Power Lunch
Located in the heart of downtown Canton since 1902, Benders Tavern is the choice for “Best place for a power lunch.”
“We’re happy we got it,” said owner Jerry Jacob. “My son and I were talking about it, and not to sound arrogant, but who else?”
He said two factors play into their success.
“No. 1, it’s what we do. And No. 2, where we are,” Jacob said of the longtime restaurant located at 137 Court Ave. SW. “We have politicians and bankers, insurance people, attorneys and the court nearby.”
Jacobs said his restaurant is known for being very fast at lunchtime, a must for busy business people and those on break from court.
The interior of the old building features tiger oak paneling, marble and tin ceilings that survived a 1988 fire.
The Benders menu is famous for its fresh seafood as well as an extensive wine list.
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