ROTTERDAM — Play by Play Sports Bar & Grill combines great food and fun into one Rotterdam’s most popular local spots.
Located at 2460 Hamburg St., Play by Play has something for everyone, said owner, Jennifer Boel. In addition to traditional drinks, the business offers a wide variety of popular foods, and a growing number of different games and activities.
Boel had worked at Play by Play for the DeAngelo family, the previous owners, for about five-and-a-half years bartending. In October, Boel will mark her two-year anniversary as owner
Boel likes to keep busy. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, she had also been a Medicaid service coordinator. While working at Play by Play, she started her own charcuterie board business, called Tasteful Luxuries. When the previous owner wanted to leave the business, Boel decided to become its new owner. Earlier this year, she and her husband purchased Roman’s Cafe in Menands.
Play by Play hosts dart and pool leagues on different weekdays. The business frequently has live music from local artists. It also hosts private events and does catering.
It also takes part in a number of local community events. It collects for Toys for Tots during the holidays, and Play by Play will be participating in the Hamburg Street Festival on Sept. 16, with live music, food, and beer vendors outside, and part of that day’s proceeds will be donated to the local charity Things of Our Very Own.
“It’s just a great neighborhood bar and grill,” Boel said. “Through all the ups and downs, I’ve never had to worry because we always know the same people are always going to come back. You never know what’s going to happen when you open up a restaurant, it’s scary. But it’s been great.”
The Daily Gazette recently spoke with Jennifer Boel about Play by Play, and here’s what she had to say:
Question: What are some of the most popular items you serve?
Answer: Pizza and wings. Our specials are huge, we do a 12-cut [pizza] and 10 wings for $26.99, and a 12-cut and 20 wings for $32.99. Every other day we have a specialty pizza, we do wing Wednesdays, which are $10 orders of wings, we have $10 burger nights on Thursdays. We try to do a different special every night. We sell a lot of everything, but our wings are probably the most popular. We try to keep them jumbo, even with the costs going up we try to keep them reasonably priced. We have like 15 different flavors.
Q: What are some of your favorite things about running Play by Play?
A: Janice my bartender, we used to work over at Recovery Sports Bar together, she came down here, and she’s been here since day one. I have a really great staff. Everybody who comes in is like family here. Come four o’clock we have our regulars every day. We know what’s going on with all their lives, one of our customer’s daughter’s just got engaged and we were all teary eyed, the guy came in here to ask permission to propose. It’s nice. We’re really a family.
Q: How would you describe the atmosphere at Play by Play?
A:It’s fun and easygoing. It’s a mix of family, locals and bargoers. It’s friendly, and safe. There’s something for everyone.
Q: What would you say your customers spend on average?
A:For dinner for two, and a couple drinks, probably $40, if you get the specials, and a couple of beers, that’s under $40, with tip.
Q: Why should someone who has never come to Play by Play consider coming?
A:The food. Good food, great bartenders who just engage. Everybody comes back here. We have so many people who stay at the hotels down here and they are here every day for like six months. It’s just fun here.