By CRAIG FREILICH

POTSDAM – Ton’s Sports Bar has closed, but it will be re-opening as Half Ton’s Bar and Grill at 141½ Market St., formerly Tardelli’s Restaurant.

Meanwhile the current occupant of the former Tardelli’s building, The Sugar Shack, was to close this weekend, according to owner Karen Rayburn, who says she is exploring options.

The sports bar, on a lot at 159 Market St. that is to be occupied by a new Hampton Inn, was closed in anticipation of that development, and owner Tom Delosh had set about looking for a new spot.

His son, Jeff Delosh, will be running the new bar.

After 17 years at Ton’s, “he was thinking of retiring anyway,” said son Jeff of his father, so the younger Delosh will be the proprietor of the new bar while he continues working as operations manager at LaValle Transportation on Madrid Avenue.

He said he had originally hoped for a Sept. 1 opening, but there is still plenty to do, “so realistically, we’re thinking mid-September or Oct. 1.”

“We’ll continue the bar menu from Ton’s,” he said, “but broader. We’ll have some healthier options – salads and wraps – and three evenings a week, specials: all-you-can-eat spaghetti on Wednesdays, prime rib Thursdays, and a fish fry Fridays.”

Delosh says he expects about 10 people will be employed there, full and part time.

Robin Peetes, who has worked at Ton’s since it opened, will have some managerial duties at Half Ton’s, he said.

As for his experience with the business, Delosh says he has worked with his father on “everything from janitorial to keeping the books.”