The Copper Cliff Italian Club’s doors have been shuttered since this spring, and now the club’s leadership has decided its closure will be permanent.
Club president Randy Desanti told Sudbury.com the decision to fold the club is due in part to the impacts of COVID-19 on the organization.
But he said the Italian club’s membership is also getting very old and spending less and less time there, and the younger generation just isn’t showing the same interest.
The club’s building is now listed for sale for $674,900.
The ad says the hall has a full banquet hall, a fully equipped commercial kitchen, walk-in freezer, party room/lounge space with a kitchenette on the upper level, as well as a separate bar and event space, as well as a four-lane bowling alley on the lower level.
“This property is in need of some repair, with lower roof above kitchen needing attention as well as some needed plumbing upgrades and exterior work,” said the ad, going on to say the property is being sold on an “as-is where-is” basis.
But Desanti said, “I firmly believe that there was going to be some organization that is going to come forward and buy it,” adding that it’s being sold as a “going concern,” meaning fixtures needed for an event space such as pots and pans and dishes will be included in the sale.
“We have a very, very good kitchen,” he said. “There's not too many people going to have a beautiful hall the way it is, another hall downstairs, and a bowling alley.”
While the Italian club couldn’t make a go of it any longer, Desanti said the club’s closure is certainly very sad.
While the club itself is 87 years old, the club building, located in Copper Cliff’s Little Italy neighbourhood, with the Superstack looming nearby, was only built in 1952.
He said his own grandfather was one of the people who originally built the club. Desanti said a lot of people don’t realize that 85 per cent of the money to put up the building was given by members.
Proceeds from the sale over and above what the club currently owes vendors will go toward “a charity in Sudbury that is important to us,” he said, although he declined to give the name of that charity at this time.
A yard sale was held at the Copper Cliff Italian Club this past weekend, and the event continues this Saturday, Oct. 29 from 9 a.m. to noon. Desanti said items up for sale will include nick-nacks such as holiday and party decor, as well as photos.
Heidi Ulrichsen is Sudbury.com’s associate content editor. She also covers education and the arts scene.
