Landlord of Falls building leased to Mark Mickey says he's innocent until proven guilty

Kerry Clawson, Akron Beacon Journal
·3 min read
Joel Testa, president and chief operating officer of Testa Cos., pictured in Akron in 2017.
Joel Testa, president and chief operating officer of Testa Cos., pictured in Akron in 2017.

Joel Testa, who sold Mark Mickey his Craft Social business and leases the former restaurant's space for the Mickey family's new Mickey's Irish Pub location, said Monday that an arson charge that Mickey faces does not affect the lease deal in Cuyahoga Falls.

Mark Mickey, co-owner of Pavona's Pizza Joint and Mickey's Irish Pub in Akron, which was destroyed by fire Oct. 7, was seen on video leaving the business six minutes before smoke started coming from the building, according to Akron police and fire investigators. A field case report from the Akron Police Department said Akron fire investigators and private fire insurance investigators determined the fire was incendiary, meaning it was deliberately set.

What video shows:Akron police, fire: Co-owner left Pavona's 6 minutes before smoke is seen

Mickey isn't the principal owner for the business entity Mickey's Irish Pub Ltd., which bought Craft Social and acquired the leased space Jan. 1, Testa said. Mickey's son, Sullivan Edward Charles Mickey, is the principal and Mark Mickey managed the purchase and lease for him, according to Testa.

"I believe in the good of people, so I hope and believe that he's innocent, and if he is truly innocent, I hope that real justice prevails and he's presumed innocent," Testa said of Mark Mickey.

"I always assume everybody's ... innocent until proven guilty.

"Nothing will change with the lease or that space, regardless of the outcome of the charges," Testa added. "That business entity is still a tenant of ours and they're still in full compliance of their lease, and we will support them fully as such."

Mark Mickey pleads not guilty to arson charge

Mark Mickey, 56, of Peninsula, entered a not guilty plea during an arraignment Feb. 21 on a fourth-degree felony arson charge at the Akron Municipal Court. His case was transferred from Akron Municipal Court to Summit County Common Pleas Court.

Mickey's next court appearance is a virtual arraignment at 9 a.m. April 10 in front of Judge Jennifer Towell.

Mickey's Irish Pub plans in Cuyahoga Falls

Co-owner Mark Mickey talks about the renovations at his new venture Mickey's Irish Pub and Pavona's Pizza Joint in Cuyahoga Falls on Jan. 16.
Co-owner Mark Mickey talks about the renovations at his new venture Mickey's Irish Pub and Pavona's Pizza Joint in Cuyahoga Falls on Jan. 16.

Mickey said in a Beacon Journal article in January that he was flipping the concept of his original Pavona's Pizza Joint business, which also housed Mickey's Irish Pub.

The new Falls location was planned as an Irish pub with a pizza joint inside. Mickey said his two sons and two daughters work at Mickey's Irish Pub/Pavona's, where he and his wife, Courtney Pavona, and Rick Piekarski are business partners.

Reopening in the Falls:Pavona's Pizza Joint finds new home after fire, at former Craft Social in Cuyahoga Falls

Mickey's Irish Pub had its soft reopening in its new Falls location Jan. 25 and announced a grand opening for St. Patrick's Day.

Mickey said in the January interview that the pub was opening first, while he continued to work on installing a pizza oven to bring back Pavona's brick-oven pizza by next week's holiday. The business's Facebook page Monday continued to say that the pizza is returning on St. Patrick's Day.

Testa said Monday that relatives and employees who have eaten at Mickey's Irish Pub said the food and vibe were great.

"I think they're gonna be a welcome addition to Front Street, no matter what," he said.

Arts writer Kerry Clawson may be reached at 330-996-3527 or kclawson@thebeaconjournal.com.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cuyahoga Falls landlord says Mark Mickey innocent until proven guilty