GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – From almost every inch of the walls, to the carpet, and table tops, Burkel’s One Block Over is a sports memorabilia collector’s dream.
“There’s stuff in here that the Hall of Fame doesn’t even have,” said Kevin Burkel, the bar’s owner.
Burkel has been in the sports bar business in the Green Bay area for 38 years, but tells FOX 11 he’s had enough.
“I’ve just been holding off, holding off, holding off, but right now I think is a great opportunity for me to make that change and do something completely different down here from everybody else.”
This week on his personal Facebook page, Burkel wrote, “due to disrespect to our flag, I am selling everything in my sports bar. It’s going to go as a package if you are interested or know of anyone interested.”
“I guess that was kind of a heat of the moment thing,” Burkel said of the Facebook post. “Yeah, does it upset me? Maybe, maybe not.”
Players like Aaron Rodgers have consistently said kneeling isn’t meant to be disrespectful to the flag, the troops, or anyone else.
Burkel, who has a son in the military, says the choice should be up to the individual.
“I’m not trying to change their decisions. I’m just taking advantage of a situation to move into a different venue.”
“Taking advantage of this movement is not good for business,” said Dajahnae Williams, a leader in the Black Lives United – Green Bay group.
Williams tells FOX 11 this isn’t the first time she’s heard of someone trying to gain from the movement.
“I hope he does some self-reflect and some research and understands the real concept behind the movement because it’s definitely not for personal gain to change your venue.”
As for the value of Burkel’s memorabilia, he says it was appraised at between $200,000 and $300,000.
“I’m not fire selling it by any means. That is not the reason I’m doing this. If I get the right dollar, I get the right dollar, If I don’t, I don’t. Then it stays.”
If it does stay, he says it’s likely headed to storage, making way for a new country themed venue.
He did say he won’t take a dollar below $200,000 and is only interested in serious inquiries for the whole collection.
