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Jerry "The King" Lawler Backs Out Of New Downtown Deli

Posted: Aug 14th 2010 By: CMBurnham

Memphis wrestling legend Jerry Lawler has withdrawn his name affiliation from a new downtown restaurant scheduled to open next week. But, the president of the Center City Commission is hoping Lawler will have a change of heart about his decision.

Memphis businessman Joe Cooper has a reputation as an entrepreneur eternally in search of that pot of gold at rainbow's end, and he thinks he's found it in his latest venture of opening a new downtown deli at the corner of Main and Adams.

"I happened to walk by here and I saw this space, I said 'My goodness, this is Boardwalk in Monopoly, this is Yankee Stadium home plate,'" Cooper exclaimed.

Of course Cooper's euphoria had to be shared with his friend, famed Memphis wrestling legend Jerry Lawler, who at first was ready to lend something very important to Cooper's cause.

"I would lend my name to the restaurant," said Lawler. "It would be called 'King Jerry Lawler's' and then Joe would basically run it."

Except that when the deli opens next week it won't bare Lawler's name or any of the hundreds of pieces of memorabilia the King was ready to spruce it up with for a number of reasons. Not the least of which appears to be a bureaucratic misunderstanding between Lawler, Cooper and the Center City Commission over placement of signage above the deli.

"It was simply a professional picture of Jerry Lawler and his signature."

"What in the world is a sign advertising your business going to hurt just because it's on the north side of the building. I just couldn't understand it. What looks better, a sign or an empty building?"

But, when FOX13 News asked the new President of the CCC, Paul Morris, about why Lawler couldn't put up a sign, he told us the application for the sign was originally approved. At least the first sign was.

"So the sign that was applied for was Jerry Lawler with his name and likeness and the sign that was approved was Jerry Lawler and his likeness and I understand Jerry Lawler said no to that," Cooper said.

Which brings us back to those two old buddies Lawler and Cooper, who themselves became involved in their own "misunderstanding" of sorts.

"Joe wanted to sell beer at the deli. And I've never in my life, I mean never, ever tasted alcohol," Lawler stated. "At that point I wanted a little more control over what went on in the business rather than just throwing my name up there."

So, for now the King's out and Joe Cooper's Deli will soon be ready for business.

"We were just going to have fun and hopefully he'll still be here a lot. You know, visiting."

Tags: Jerry Lawler