Cheers! to GAMEDAY SOCIAL, Canton’s new neighborhood sports bar
GAMEDAY SOCIAL is located at 50296 Cherry Hill Road in Canton.
On July 1, a wall-to-wall wave of people — many dressed in red, white and blue — converged on Canton’s newest sports gathering place to witness the United States men’s soccer team’s 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in a Round of 32 World Cup match.
That so many people chose to watch one of the USA’s most-anticipated athletic events in a recently-opened establishment says a lot for the owners of Gameday Social, who have turned the former Maraschino’s Pub at 50296 Cherry Hill Road into a hot-spot venue for enjoying food, spirits and can’t-miss sporting events.
“The response we’ve received from the community has been fantastic so far,” said Awsem Zbair, who owns Gameday Social along with business partner Brandon Bahoura. “We pride ourselves on two things: our delicious food and our amazing service … and the number of repeat customers we’ve had in the month or so since we’ve been open shows us that people appreciate that.
“We’ve worked so hard over the past year to curate a menu that people will love — if you knew how many variations of fish we tried for our fish and chips, you’d be amazed (Zbair smiled) — and to put together a standard of service customers expect. I treat our customers as if they’re family visiting my home.”
Business is buzzing
Zbair noted that business has been buzzing at Gameday Social since its soft opening in June — even though it has yet to hold a grand opening (July 25) or launched a serious marketing campaign.
“I make it a point to go around and table touch every day and night, asking people how their experience has been here,” Zbair said. “If it’s not great, they’re going to go elsewhere. That’s why accountability is so important to us.
“Most of our business so far has been from word-of-mouth marketing. Canton has been great to us, but we’re also getting repeat customers from Plymouth and all the surrounding communities.”
(To check out a quick video tour of Gameday Social, click here.)
Utopia for sports fans
Take it from a huge, lifelong Detroit sports fan: Gameday Social is a Utopia for lovers of sports, food and spirits.
Furnished with several high-definition wall-mounted TVs, eye-catching sports-themed wall art, and a refreshing vibe created by its inviting staff and an off-the-charts delicious menu and drinks offering, Gameday Social is bringing a much-needed spark to the heart of Cherry Hill Village.
“The reason my partner and I got into the sports bar industry is because we love Detroit sports,” said Zbair. “I worked on the charity softball game for the Detroit Lions for over a decade, so I got a chance to befriend a lot of Lions players, some of whom have already stopped by Gameday.
“The thing is, though, we treat everyone who walks through out doors like they’re a celebrity or a big-time athlete.”
Experience equals success
With over three decades of experience, Zbair and Bahourn know the hospitality industry like the back of their hands.
Zbair started as a bartender while in his late-teens/early-20s. Throughout a 10-year career with the MGM Grand in downtown Detroit, for whom he managed a nightclub, Zbair learned the smallest details that are vital to make a venture like Gameday successful.
After serving as a restaurant consultant for multiple businesses, Zbair decided to was time to turn his knowledge into a first-hand experience — and, although it’s still early in the first quarter of his journey, he’s scoring goals, so to speak.
Carefully curated menu
Gameday Social’s menu is rostered with a variety of top-shelf comfort foods that are bringing people back for seconds and more.
“We’ve already seen some repeat customers who have been here at least eight times in the first month,” he shared. “People love the service they’re getting. For instance, when I see someone’s ice water is three-fourths gone, we don’t wait for them to ask us for a refill; we’re on it before they can ask.”
Zbair said he is anxiously awaiting the arrival of football season, the time of year when Lions, Wolverines and Spartans fans are looking for a place to cheer on their favorite teams … and their fantasy teams.
“We’re having a $30,000 sports ticker installed above our bar (July 7) that will show scores, stats, even betting lines for all the sports,” Zbair said. “I think fantasy football fans — everyone, really — will enjoy this.”
Seconds after a 15-minute-ish interview with Social House News, Zbair returned to his table-touching routine — reading the pulse of his expansive collection of customers, an overwhelming majority of whom walked out after their meal satisfied and already anticipating their return visit.
Ed Wright can be reached at 734-664-4657 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.
