#bigberthas

Jay Arritt, the owner of the building that once housed the gentleman’s club known as Big Bertha’s, doesn’t know a lot of the history the business, and the only reason why he owns the structure is that in 2002 it was a package deal. Big Bertha’s, located at 1067 Main St. across the street from the former location of Horne’s, opened soon after the Club Tower was purchased and closed to make way for the Boury Center. That building currently is named Century Plaza.

Big Bertha's was a long, slender nightclub that opened soon after the Club Tower closed in downtown Wheeling. “I’m pretty sure Big Bertha’s closed in the early 1990s, but I’m not 100 percent sure because the building wasn’t mine at that time,” Arritt said. “I know the place was only open for four or five years because it didn’t work out the way the owners wanted. “I was never in it when it was open for business, so I don’t know if it was ever busy. Since it closed only after a few years, my guess is that it wasn’t that popular of place,” he continued. “I bought that building only because it came with the (Outdoor Store) building. It was a package deal, so I own, it and it’s up for sale, too.”

The owners of Big Bertha's left some things behind when it closed in the early 1990s, but these gems remain behind the bar.

A Package Deal

Arritt, a resident of Moundsville, decided to buy the pawn shop because he had worked there for nearly two decades when the former owner informed him he decided to retire. It was a solid decision for many years, growing the number of employees to nearly 10, but customer traffic has slowed during the past 10 years. “I bought the Outdoor Store because I had worked here for 18 years before the owner offered it to me,” Arritt explained. “I was offered the shot, so I took it because I knew the business and thought it would be a great idea. And it was a great idea for a pretty long time. “But over the years, the business got slower and slower, and it came to the point several years ago to where I had to start cutting staff in order to survive,” he said. “At one time I had eight employees, and then I cut it down to three. From there, I had to let them go, too, and it’s been just me for the last year.” Initially, the Internet did not intimidate Arritt because of the steady flow of business he had experienced since his first day on the job. But then revenue decreased significantly enough that difficult decisions had to be made. “I think one of the reasons why the business got so slow is because of Internet sales. I guess people didn’t have a use for a business like this one anymore,” Arritt admitted. “They can buy and sell online now, and that really put a hurting on me, and it’s hurting a lot of other small businesses, too. “It’s been awful, if I have to be honest, and it’s now time to get out,” he continued. “I had hoped that laying off the employees would allow me to keep it afloat, but that just hasn’t worked out,” he said. “It’s just time to get out while I can.”

This female mannequin stands in front of the bar after Outdoor Store employees placed her there to store until needed again.

For Sale

Since Arritt offered a 30 percent discount on all merchandise except for firearms, the flow of customers nearly has emptied the Outdoor Store’s large retail area. Only a few fishing poles are left, some military surplus, and the jewelry cases remain somewhat filled with discounted items. As far as items that have been pawned and paid on, Arritt said approximately 30 items remain in the store. “I am working with those folks so they’ll be able to get those items back in their possession,” he explained. “The writing has been on the wall for some time now, and it’s the best time for me while I’m still young enough to find something else to do for that paycheck. Right now, with the Outdoor Store, there’s no paycheck. It’s a shame I have to leave Wheeling after all this time in order to survive, but that’s a fact.”

Much of the merchandise inside the Outdoor Store has been sold since the owner began offering 30 percent discounts on everything except handguns. The Outdoor Store moved from Market Street to its current location in 1985, and once again it’s a package deal that can be purchased via Harvey Goodman Realtor for $225,000. Arritt said he paid for a new rubber roof for both buildings just 12 years ago and that he has not experienced a single structural issue in the past 18 years. Above the street-level entrances, each building has two floors that once were residential, and there are three levels of basements below the main floors. Since Big Bertha’s closed, Arritt confirmed, it’s remained silent with no communicated interest.

Jay Arritt worked at the Outdoor Store for 18 years before purchasing the buildings and the business in 2002. “So, the only reason that I’ve gone over since I bought it has been to store some larger items that we’ve had come in,” Arritt explained, “like lawnmowers and bikes and things like that. That’s all Bertha’s has been used for since the 1990s. “But most of everything that was in there when it was Bertha’s is still there. At least what those business owners left behind,” he said. “They left the place pretty much a mess, but anyone who went there when it was open will recognize it from the photos, I’m sure.”