News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Sports Page Lounge new owner Brian Peterson stands in front of a Detroit Tigers flag while at the bar in Alpena on Wednesday. Peterson said he doesn’t intend to make significant changes to the popular bar, but does intend to make it more of a sports bar than it is now.

ALPENA — A popular watering hole in Alpena has a new owner, but people in Northeast Michigan shouldn’t expect wholesale changes in the business.

The Sports Page Lounge, which was owned by Bob Adamski for nearly four decades, was sold to Brian Peterson last month. Most of the staff familiar with the customers and community were retained.

Peterson said he intends to make some subtle changes to the bar, mostly cosmetic, and add to the menu of beer on tap. He said the popular events, entertainment, and customer service the bar is known for will continue, and he believes regulars and new customers will feel welcome and eager to return.

Peterson said over the years, he enjoyed an occasional drink at the Sports Page and enjoyed its atmosphere and its variety of clientele.

“It’s a cool bar and I have always liked it,” Peterson said. “I like how it looks inside and the architecture of it, and I always had a good time in it. I’m not going to change it up too much. I’ll do a few things, but I don’t want to reinvent the wheel either.”

Peterson has already continued the legacy of some of Adamski’s popular events. On the Detroit Tigers’ opening day, he held an event, and he held a Cinco De Mayo party too. He said he does intend to make the bar more of a sports bar, where people can come in, enjoy a ballgame or other sporting event, and enjoy a cocktail.

“I want to put big televisions up all the way around and really kind of lean into the sports theme,” he said. “It can be a place where you can come in, have a beer, have a little food, and watch the game. You can also come in after you’re done golfing with your buddies and just lean into being more of an actual sports bar. I think there is an opportunity in Alpena for that.”

The Sports Page is also known for having live entertainment featuring area bands. Peterson said he intends to continue to showcase the talent of musicians in Northeast Michigan and other types of entertainment.

The bar is in the recently expanded Alpena Downtown Development District, and the DDA has already helped improve the appearance and dynamics of that section of Chisholm Street. Several businesses, such as Players Pub and Grub, and Clem’s Bait and Tackle have undergone improvement projects, and Peterson said the presence of the DDA may help spur further growth and development in that section of the city. He said that could include other bars.

“The best thing to have across the street from a bar is another bar,” Peterson said.

To promote his business, its deals, and events, Peterson said he is going to be very active on social media to lure customers into the bar.

He said social media has helped promote his other two businesses, the Old Polish Corner and Nowicki’s Sausage Shoppe, and he believes it will be the same with the Sports Page.

“Both Nowicki’s and the Polish Corner have pretty awesome followings, and the Sports Page already does too,” he said. “I think because of social media, a lot of people know what we’re doing and what the events are.”

Steve Schulwitz can be reached at 989-358-5689 or sschulwitz@TheAlpenaNews.com. Follow him on X @ss_alpenanews.com.