BOARDMAN TWP., Ohio - Three businesses in The Shops at Boardman Park closed their doors Wednesday. 

It was an emotional experience manning the bar for Justin Homer as he poured drinks and served food while reminiscing one last time with his customers as he got ready to close for good.

“A lot of people are sad, this to me this is a happy joyous thing,” Homer said. “We got to live ‘Cheers’ for eight and a half years.”

His store Casual Pint has been a place for sports and laughs in the plaza off Route 224 but now the spot will clear out come 2026.

“It’s cost,” he said. “Inflationary pressures that we've dealt with the past couple of years, sales have kind of dropped since pre-covid.”

And they're not the only ones. In the same plaza, Rise Pies is also shutting its doors. A representative from their parent company told 21 News they plan to find a new space by spring of 2026. They hope to stay in Boardman Township. 

On the other side of the plaza, the third business closing to finish the year is Movies 8. Being in the township for 11 years the owners said it was too difficult to keep up with modern theaters.

But even with the end on the horizon customers flooded in grabbing some popcorn, picking out their favorite toppings or raising a glass one last time - saying goodbye to spots they've come to love and the people with it.

“For someone not being from here it's been very much a hug and a hand shake that I can never thank the community for,” Homer said. 

Homer plans to take a few years off before finding a new space to turn into his next bar. 

Boardman Township Trustee Steve Yacovone said "we never want to see businesses leave Boardman…[but] its turn over that you see in a large township.” He added he feels positive about other businesses moving into the privately owned plaza.

21 News reached out to The Shops at Boardman Park owners Handel Investments LLC, asking if the spots the businesses are leaving will see new tenants anytime soon but did not hear back.