I am doing a little research on the feasibility of having a restaurant in the former jolly Joe's. What do you guys think of it? As i understand from sources in the community, it the issue was not business but lack of management
I've dined in that restaurant a few times and even went to a few parties there. It was a reasonably nice place.
I see three problems. The first is it isn't on a main road (but neither is the MVR). Secondly, the location is not exactly in an upscale neighborhood. Thirdly, many potential customers from the suburbs will not come there because it is within the city limits (the city phobia, I guess).
If you were able to offer great food at reasonable prices and did a lot of advertising, you just might make a go of it.
What type of food would the restaurant feature?
At this point we are just in the research phase of cost so it would be way to early to say for sure what kind of a menu but i have several ideas. Advertising would be a main issue, along with safety of course. I know of people that came from Warren to eat there because they enjoyed the food. I was by the building today and noticed windows were broken out and wonder what that means for the inside.. I am going to see if i can find out more about how much they would want for it is still with it and if the liquor license is still available. I would really like to see the inside also before really getting head long in the the research. Does any one know how long ago those windows were broken?
We applaud your enthusiasm for thinking of opening a restaurant at the old Jolly Joe's.
We went past there in mid-November and the windows were fine. Lots of high weeds though. We used to go there for dinner - the atmosphere and food were wonderful. Prices weren't bad either. The neighborhood has been slipping but people would still go there because it's not too far off the main roads. As things go, you might think about employing an off-duty police officer. Even though that costs more money than a security firm, it would be beneficial to you and make the patrons feel safer.
We wish you well if you decide to take this further and would gladly patronize your establishment!
Last summer this forum contained a short discussion about the closing of Jolly Joe's. Here is the link to those messages.
http://mahoningvalley.info/forum/index.php?topic=1426.0 (http://mahoningvalley.info/forum/index.php?topic=1426.0)
Thank you Jay.
I am going to go down to the courthouse tomorrow to look up the documents regarding the foreclosure.
Mary,
Did you find out any information about Jolly Joe's?
I live in the neighborhood and had been to Jolly Joe's numerous times. We often had 7th Ward Citizens Coalition meetings, there. Also, various fundraisers.
At the January 7WCC meeting, I sat in front of some city officials and they were talking about how trashed out the interior was. I was disappointed but definitely not surprised to hear that.
To me, the interior was okay but nothing special. The food could be good. Youngstown people tend to overpraise restaurants that are only adequate. Maybe they don't travel enough.
The previous owner was very good to the surrounding community but I also wasn't surprised to hear that the restaurant closed.
Sorry Jay i just noticed you had posted in this thread. Actually i have not had a chance to do much except what i can find out about it on the net. A friend asked me to work for him for a while so i have been a bit busy but still interested.
Mary thanks for posting. i figured it was trashed inside but thanks confirming. City officials have anything else to say other then how bad it was inside? Any info would be great for me.
I am hoping to get to the courts in the next 2 weeks to get the full foreclosure file. I will post when i know more.
No, nothing else that the city officials said. Maybe you could contact Officer Bill Ward via the Chief's office. He is now one of two community police officers who attend block watch meetings and have a lot of contact with neighbors. He has been very helpful to us and might have some updates for you.
Thank you Mary.. I also heard from others the robberys were setups for insurance fraud. again just rumors.
Hi all,
It would be beneficial to take rumors about people's alleged activities into a private conversation.
Unless we ourselves absolutely know something for certain this can become very sticky for our forum.
We are basically trashing someone we don't even know by continuing hearsay.
We would not appreciate it if someone that didn't know us personally posted something about us on a community forum.
It is acceptable to say I think this PERSON or that PERSON is a jerk or this happened to me...because it is your opinion or your own experience, but to say I heard a rumor that this person did something illegal is only that, HEAR SAY.
Several people on this forum can attest to the fact that I have asked them privately to revise their posts when they have said something about a person that cannot be validated personally.
This is not censorship.
It is an effort to let you know that your opinions about any person and any subject are very welcomed, but if it isn't your own opinion, it can lead to liability issues.
If you say "in my opinion" or "I question this situation" then you claim ownership of the thought and this forum cannot be held responsible for your thoughts or opinions.
I may have missed similar posts on occasion so please don't ask why I am picking only this post.
As noted my messages about rumors have been private.
I've tried to be vigilant about rumors in regard to individuals in our community.
I hope I've explained this adequately.
Forum manager
Just to update everyone I was at the courts this morning and found that the case for this business is back on the docket to finish the foreclosure. I am continuing to look in to this opportunity. At this time I am trying to get in touch with someone that can get me in the building. I want to see what kind of damage has been done to it. Mainly worried about copper stripping.
On a side not a lawyer i know put together a little seminar on the forclosure process for the county. It was very informative if you are interested in buying these properties. It was given by an administrator of the county and a group called Lien forward Ohio. If any one is interested i can message you the notes on the process.
Did you check with the 7th Ward council member, Mark Memmer?
Didn't even think of that. I will give him a call. Thanks you very much!!
I drove past Jolly Joe's today. Someone recently covered all of the windows and doors with plywood.
The building will be up for sheriff's auction soon. I assume the bank must have done it.
The plants and weeds around the building are getting higher and higher. What will be the fate of this former restaurant?
The judge has ordered the sale but the former owners must be notified and the courts were unable to deliever the notices to them.
What do you mean by they "were unable to deliver the notices'? Have the owners left the area? Could the courts give a 30-day public notice in the Legal News, etc. and move on with the sale? Hope so. Seems like everything takes so much time around here before progress could be made.
The mail service could not be complete, one reason could be a move. It will be listed for a certain period of time and then still auctioned.
And your right everything in this area takes so long.
Quote from: Mary on June 03, 2007, 02:23:52 AM
And your right everything in this area takes so long.
I wonder if there is some way all the red tape can be reduced? I think there would be a lot more development in the area if it wasn't so difficult to start up.
I know a reliable source whose son wanted to open up a Starbucks downtown. But, after seeing the red tape involved, decided it wasn't worth the trouble.
There are often more sides to a vacant property's story.
Red tape seems the norm and the city seems to discourage and even thwart owners from improving at times.