Sara C. Tobias / Chief Photographer / st939605@ohiou.edu

Patrons of the Blue Gator will have to wait a little longer to hear the blues. Despite the owner Joel Schechtman’s hopes of reopening during Homecoming Weekend the bar remains closed.

Patrons of the Blue Gator will have to wait a little longer to hear the blues.

Owner Joel Schechtman, who also owns Skipper’s Bar & Grille, hoped to serve people in time for Homecoming Weekend, but ongoing planning delayed opening the doors.

“Our goal is to get it open as soon as possible,” Schechtman said.

Traditionally, the club closes for a few weeks at the end of August before classes begin, but it was closed this past summer because of a foreclosure action, filed by local parties including the Hocking Valley Bank.

In response, Schechtman filed a motion for an extension, according to records from the Athens County Common Pleas Court.

The Hocking Valley Bank did not return phone calls seeking comment.

Despite the dark windows of Blue Gator, Skipper’s was open for Homecoming Weekend and profits exceeded last year’s numbers, Schechtman said.

“Every business in Athens is for sale for the right price,” he said. “I believe the Blue Gator is an important music and food venue for Athens and having it open will be a positive thing for the Uptown scene.”

Schectman’s lawyer, John Stets, had no comment.