Avalon Gardens, a long-time north side restaurant, has closed.
There are not many restaurants on the north side. If northsiders won't support their own neighborhood bussinesses, who will?
The Avalon was a great restaurant at one time- The problem became the turn-over of owners--The loss of a liquor licenses for a while (owner didn't pay the taxes) and the crime in the area. The owners would not invest in security for the parking lots so that was a big deterrent in people eating there. I can tell you they lost a tremendous amount of business from the hospitals and much of that was due to security and the service inside the restaurant...I for one will establish any locally owned restaurant as long as the food is good-service is good-and you feel safe being there. ..
Quote from: Rushblvd on January 24, 2012, 04:00:45 PM
The Avalon was a great restaurant at one time- The problem became the turn-over of owners--The loss of a liquor licenses for a while (owner didn't pay the taxes) and the crime in the area. The owners would not invest in security for the parking lots so that was a big deterrent in people eating there. I can tell you they lost a tremendous amount of business from the hospitals and much of that was due to security and the service inside the restaurant...I for one will establish any locally owned restaurant as long as the food is good-service is good-and you feel safe being there. ..
rushgal have you tried the new restaurant at the former, "Oven" in the uptown district?
Jay: Have you ever dined at the Golden Dawn? This restraunt has been in the same location as it was when it first opened and the food is very good. Italian.
There are plenty of restaurants up in Liberty, only a few blocks north of the Avalon. We ate at a new restaurant last night that is where Armando's used to be. Souther cuisine. Very good food.
I don't get too hung up on boundary lines like some on this forum do. I get this Youngstowncentric vibe, as if those of us who do not live within the city limits of Youngstown, or more specifically downtown, are somehow not worthy. There is more to this valley than just the city.
rr there isn't thing wrong being a cheerleader for your hometown. my parents instilled hometown pride in all their children when it comes to supporting ht businesses. rr would you choose a lib rest over hubbard rest?
THE REST OF THE STORY
A Youngstown restaurant is closed after its owner went missing over four months ago.
Jim Donofrio's family last saw him in September when he left home for Avalon Gardens, his restaurant on the North Side of Youngstown. On Monday evening, the building sat dark and vacant when they were supposed to be open for business.
We called the phone number listed, but there was no answer. A message left on a relative's voice mail was not returned. However, a posting on the restaurant's facebook page contained the following message:
"The revival of Avalon Gardens was a dream of Jim Donofrio's starting in the beginning of 2011 when he purchased it. Unfortunately, he was not given the chance to make that dream come true. Jim always wanted to give back to Youngstown, the city he grew up in. He truly believed 'The Av' was a perfect place to start. On September 25th, 2011 Jim went missing and his car was found under the Market St Bridge in Youngstown. As of today Jim is still missing. On Saturday, January 21st the Donofrio Family had no other choice but to close the doors of The Av for good. It was a difficult decision, but the most important effort right now is finding Jim."
Since Donofrio disappeared, the FBI has joined the investigation, and are working with local police on finding any new clues or leads.
As you can see, the closing of the restaurant had nothing to do with Youngstown's and particularly North Siders not dining there and EVERYTHING to do with the missing owner.
Again, boundaries aren't as important. My list of favorite restaurants include:
MVR Youngstown
Salvatore's Howland
Niccolini's Boardman and Austintown
Naple's Steubenville
Nonni's Liberty
Emerald Diner Hubbard
Its all about the food, not the town.
I've dined at the Golden Dawn many times in recent months. The white shirt and tie bartenders add to the atmosphere.QuoteJay: Have you ever dined at the Golden Dawn? This restraunt has been in the same location as it was when it first opened and the food is very good. Italian.
it is said that the golden dawn is the ursuline alumni and people who studied physics is their hangout. geo mckelvey has breakfast there on a regular basis. the prices are very reasonable for a large family to dine there without breaking their bank acct.
There was a post on Facebook yesterday that the pizza chef from the Avalon will be the chef of a new restaurant downtown.
yummm...
Will the restaurant be in a totally new location or will it be in one of the closed eateries?
From what I've read on FB, the construction is going on in what used to be Club Exclusive.
Here's the thread on FB - https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10150673222917945&id=530682944 (https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10150673222917945&id=530682944)
That's all we need ... ANOTHER TROFT TO STICK OUR SNOUTS IN, yet try to get a prescription filled, a pair of shoes or some decent cloths you'll have to go to Liberty or Boardman. Dine Youngstown ... Phooey!
Are you just talking abour downtown or all of Youngstown?
For downtown, I agree. But all of Youngstown, there are plenty of places to get prescriptions filled or shop for clothes.
Yes, just downtown ... admittedly and proudly I might add, I do most of my shopping in Liberty for stuff like clothing, most of my groceries, and even my banking, and as for eating out, I prefer my own cooking thank you ever so much. I do some of my shopping at the little store across the street from me and at the Union Square Save-A-Lot, but that's just about as far as shopping in Youngstown is concerned.
Now if there were more stores downtown, I would shop there when the need occassions it.
Retail is a funny thing. You can open an eatery just about anywhere. But even downtown Cleveland, with about 15,000 residents, has a shortage of retail.
I think someone from this forum needs to open a business, then this thread might have some meaning.
The contents of the Avalon Gardens were sold today at auction.