JACKSON TWP. – The Belden Village area soon will have a new entertainment and dining destination.
Putt Street Social, which will be opening at 4834 Everhard Road NW, combines two indoor mini golf courses with a bar, lounge and a chef-driven restaurant that will serve scratch-made dishes and shareable plates.
“At Putt Street Social, we believe the best experiences are shared — a menu built around connection, crafted for gathering, grazing and enjoying together,” said Greg Kandis, who owns the business with his wife, Elena Aslanides-Kandis.
The couple hope the venue will become a place where guests can play a round of mini golf, enjoy craft cocktails and linger over creative dishes designed to be shared.
Stark County roots
The owners have deep ties to Stark County. Elena grew up in Plain Township and Greg in Canton South, and the couple lives locally with their family.
Elena continues her work as suicide and resiliency services coordinator with Stark County Mental Health & Addiction Recovery while helping launch the new venture.
Greg has years of restaurant and hospitality experience and worked for a beverage distributor, where wine became a particular passion. The couple began researching the idea for Putt Street Social in 2024 and spent the following year developing the concept.
Greg, who has an art background, designed the venue’s two themed mini golf courses.
A hole-in-one
Putt Street Social has two indoor, nine-hole, mini golf courses, The Vineyard and The Mediterranean, complete with a mini golf concierge.
Standard adult putters with the Putt Street Social logo will be available, along with lighter adjustable putters for children.
Chef-driven kitchen
The kitchen is led by Chef Mark Pullin, whose culinary career has taken him from Canton to restaurants in Las Vegas, San Diego and Key West.
Pullin and Kandis first worked together at the Agora, owned by Pete Papacostas, and then opened Pete’s Grill & Pizza in downtown Canton.
Pullin has opened restaurants for notable culinary names including Martha Stewart, Bobby Flay and Gordon Ramsay, and he previously won the Taste of the NFL. Kandis convinced Pullin to return from Melbourne Beach, Florida, to help create the concept.
Pullin said his goal is food that is approachable but executed with strong technique.
“Highlighting unique, scratch-made menu items showcasing exceptional flavors will create a memorable dining experience for our guests,” he said.
With few exceptions, everything served is made in-house, including pasta, sauces and breads.
A menu designed for sharing
The menu is organized around small plates, shareables and stand-alone dishes that guests can mix and match.
Sections include:
A Happy Palate kids menu also will be offered, with playful options such as Frosted Flakes chicken tenders.
Preview tasting
During a preview visit, the bar and kitchen offered a sampling of what guests can expect.
Behind the bar, Tatiana served a petal and pepper margarita along with a tarragon mule.
Dishes I sampled included:
The menu draws from Mediterranean and coastal influences, using French techniques and modern cooking methods. Based on the preview tasting, the restaurant could easily become a destination on its own.
Space designed for socializing
The main restaurant and bar seat 100 guests, with a separate vineyard dining area seating 40.
The venue also includes The Lounge, the only area with televisions. The rest of the space is intentionally screen-free to encourage conversation and socializing.
Opening plans
The owners plan to open Putt Street Social in early April.
Guests will be able to make dinner reservations and mini golf tee times.
For updates and the official opening date, follow Putt Street Social on Facebook or @puttstreetsocial on Instagram.
Bev Shaffer, Food & Drink reporter for The Canton Repository, can be reached at bshaffer@usatodayco.com or 330-580-8318.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Putt Street Social to blend mini golf, scratch dining in Jackson Twp.
Reporting by Bev Shaffer, Canton Repository / The Repository
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