LATROBE, Pa. -- When Johnathan Huemme surveys the spacious surroundings inside Sharky's Cafe -- a place large enough to house more than 30 HDTVs, pool tables, a game room and two full-swing golf simulators -- he can't help but feel lucky.
The 37-year-old owner of the popular restaurant/sports bar just east of Saint Vincent College on Route 30 can seat between 600 to 700 customers at full capacity when counting his adjacent business, The Pier.
Even when operating at 50 percent capacity, as permitted in the green phase of Gov. Tom Wolf's process to reopen Pennsylvania from the coronavirus shutdown, Sharky's has the room to make up for lost business. He also has the necessities in place -- from a sanitation station to clear dividers surrounding the bar, which allow enough room for groups of four to hang out while practicing social distancing with others -- to stay in touch with suggested guidelines.
"Honestly, life is getting back to normal for us," Huemme said. "We've had such overwhelming support that backed us through the shutdown, that we're only down 15 percent from what we'd normally be right now, even at 50 percent capacity."
That's why Huemme, whose business sold its inventory as groceries during earlier stages of the shutdown, feels lucky.
But when he looks around, he also can't help but wonder.
What if Sharky's and The Pier were jammed packed with black-and-gold wearing, Terrible Towel-carrying Steelers fans for three to four weeks later this summer? What if the Steelers were permitted to hold training camp at Saint Vincent, where they were every summer beginning in 1966, instead of Heinz Field?
"We probably get about a 40 percent increase from regular business during training camp," Huemme said. "And training camp might have been a week longer this year. That would have really helped revenue."
During training camp, Sharky's regularly hosts radio shows. Steelers players and coaches walk through the doors. Fans flock there for food and adult beverages, discussing the day's events.
"It's definitely going to be different," Huemme said. "People travel from all over the world come to training camp. We won't get to see them. It's crappy that we won't get to see them."
A little further down the road on Route 30, Dino's Sports Lounge is another popular training camp hangout.
Known for its "wings of joy," Dino's, much like Sharky's, hosts radio shows during camp and Steelers players, coaches and fans regularly fill the place.
Owner Dino DeCario is feeling the sting.
"To be honest, not having training camp is a concern. It's just another letdown, another nail in the coffin," said the 58-year-old DeCario, who has run the business for 31 years. "We were hoping, but not expecting training camp to be here. It's another blow."
Dino's Sports Lounge in Latrobe, Tuesday. - MIKE KOVAK / DKPS