The Rise of The Phoenix Poker Club

Every great story starts somewhere.  Ours began with a few friends, a deck of cards, and a garage.

What started as a humble 25-cent poker game in a close friend’s garage quickly outgrew its first home. The laughter and late-night strategy sessions moved to Kevin’s basement, where the energy grew right alongside the player base. Before long, what began as a friendly home game evolved into a thriving poker community — nearly 300 players strong — with tournaments running three to four nights a week across four tables and as many as fifty people gathered together sharing cards, stories, and good times.

As the tournaments gained momentum, higher-limit cash games naturally followed. The Phoenix Poker Club wasn’t just about poker anymore — it was about connection, camaraderie, and a shared love for the game.

Meanwhile, Dan had been playing at another club about thirty minutes away. One night, Rebecca, a fellow player told him, “You need to meet Kevin.”
He did — and as they say, the rest is history.

From that meeting, a friendship and partnership was born. Dan and Kevin joined forces, sharing a vision to turn their growing home-game community into something bigger, more organized, and more meaningful: The Phoenix Poker Club LLC.

From Basement to City Hall

The vision was bold — and it needed the right foundation.
Enter Jake Wells, the club’s Operations Manager, whose connection to a member of the Massillon City Council opened a pivotal door. On the morning of August 26th, 2025, armed with a detailed business presentation and stories of friendships, laughter, and success, Dan, Kevin, and Jake met with key officials at the Huntington Bank Building in downtown Massillon.

In attendance were not only the Mayor, but also the Law Director, Chief of Police, Head of Economic Development, and several other respected city leaders. What began as a formal meeting quickly turned into an hour-long conversation filled with enthusiasm, vision, and mutual respect. By the end, the group had done more than just pitch an idea — they’d earned the city’s unanimous blessing to move forward.

The Phoenix Poker Club officially had the green light to rise.

Finding the Perfect Home

As fate would have it, the club’s next chapter almost didn’t happen. A planned lease deal fell through the day before signing. But poker — and life — are all about timing.
That same night, a player and friend from the growing Phoenix network mentioned a building he thought might become available the very next day.

Within an hour, Dan and Kevin were there, peering through the windows of what looked like destiny. The lights were still on, the tenants were moving out, and the potential was undeniable. The next morning, the landlord gave them a full tour — and by the following day, the lease was signed.

The Phoenix Poker Club secured its new home: an entire 12,000-square-foot building in downtown Massillon, perfectly positioned across from the Police Station, in front of a church, and beside a bank — a location that couldn’t be more fitting.

The upper level, a 6,000-square-foot former event center, is now being transformed into a wide-open, state-of-the-art poker room. The lower level, once a restaurant and bar, will soon be subleased — expanding the ecosystem that surrounds The Phoenix and bringing even more life into the heart of the city.

The Phoenix Rises

From a 25-cent garage game to a 12,000-square-foot poker club with city support — The Phoenix Poker Club is more than a venue. It’s a story of friendship, growth, and passion for the game that brings people together.

This is more than poker.
This is The Phoenix Poker Club — where the game is just the beginning.