Joe Jonas performs at Newark restaurant
3:32 AM, Jul. 16, 2011
Written by Anna Suda

NEWARK — Ashlie Hankinson was so excited she couldn’t stand still.

The Johnstown 12-year-old stood in the parking lot of The Grill on Twenty First on Friday, impatiently waiting for Joe Jonas to arrive.

Proudly wearing a Jonas Brothers T-shirt, she bounced up and down, scanning North 21st Street in hopes of seeing his limo.

When Jonas did take the stage shortly before 11 p.m., Ashlie joined the hundreds of fans screaming and shrieking for the 21-year-old musician.

A member of the musical trio The Jonas Brothers, Joe Jonas visited The Grill for a short performance as part of the WNCI 97.9 Morning Zoo World Tour.

He performed his new single “See No More” for a crowd of more than 1,500.

“I didn’t realize how big he was until today,” said Eric Mason, owner of The Grill. “We had girls waiting in line at 2 p.m. when the doors didn’t open until 5 p.m.”

Jonas’ performance is the fourth major concert to be hosted at The Grill.

After forming a friendship with Morning Zoo radio hosts Dave Kaelin and Jimmy Jam in 2008, Mason began collaborating with WNCI to bring well-known performers to the restaurant, including Good Charlotte.

Jonas is the biggest star The Grill has hosted, Mason said.

To prepare for the concert, Mason paid for 10 special duty police officers to help with traffic and safety. He delivered fliers about the concert to people who live near the restaurant, informing them of the noise and providing them with coupons.

Tickets for the concert were $5 and proceeds were donated to Hospice of Central Ohio in honor of a Grill patron who benefited from hospice services, Mason said.

“It’s great to be able to do this for $5 and get someone like Joe Jonas who puts on shows all over the world,” he said.

Friday’s concert kicked off with performances by musical groups Full Tilt, of Newark, and Three Ton Toad, of Columbus.

Before Jonas sang, the members of the Morning Zoo crew performed several songs and parodies, including a live version of “The Newark Song.”

After Jonas sang, he took several questions from the audience.

While some fans asked for handshakes, hugs and his hand in marriage, others asked about his recent decision to start a solo career.

Jonas thanked the fans for their support and said he wants to come back to Newark soon.

“To hear your reaction and to see you guys come out when I’m doing the solo thing is really cool,” he said.

Marcella Sullivan and her 6-year-old daughter, Abbreyanna, came from Dublin to see the concert and cheer for Jonas.

“I wanted her to experience live music and see someone she could relate to,” Sullivan said.

Emily Anderson, 15, and Zoey Klein, 15, made matching “I Love Joe Jonas” T-shirts to wear to the concert.

“We love him; he’s just awesome,” Emily said. “We love everything about him.”

Zoey’s cousin, Sara Crall, of Utica, brought the girls to the concert and was pleased with the low ticket prices and big-name entertainment.

“It’s a pretty big deal to be such a small town and have such a big artist come here,” she said. “It’s kind of a surprise.”

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