DOWNTOWN Martini's restaurant to move out of the basement

The restaurant is planning to move into space being vacated by Ohio Edison.
By DON SHILLING
VINDICATOR BUSINESS EDITOR
YOUNGSTOWN -- Martini's is moving from the downtown basement of the City Centre One building to the ground level.
The restaurant intends to nearly double its space by taking over the space being vacated by Ohio Edison and another vacant office.
Matt Sutton, restaurant owner, said he plans to begin the remodeling soon and have the new location open about the end of November, when the street construction outside is to be completed. The city has ripped up the pedestrian plaza on Federal Plaza and is having a through street installed.
Martini's will remain open at its current location until the move.
Closing
Sutton said he has been looking to expand or relocate for some time and decided this was a good time because of the closing of the Ohio Edison bill payment office.
Ohio Edison announced in January that it was closing all of its bill payment offices, including those in Youngstown, Warren and Salem. The offices will close at the end of the work day Friday.
The electric utility said only 3 percent of its customers pay bills in person, and it has extended its network of authorized payment centers to serve those customers. Some grocery stores, pharmacies and other stores accept payments, although a fee can be charged.
Confident
Sutton said he has confidence in downtown Youngstown and thinks the opening of the street and proposed convocation center will help downtown businesses. He said moving from the basement of the City Centre One building will make his restaurant more visible.
Expanding the restaurant also will allow him to increase the size of the menu, such as adding lobster dishes and more steaks. He also is adding a bakery, so staff will be making breads and pastries. Employment will increase from five to between 15 and 20.
Martini's will be open for breakfast, and he thinks his dinner business will increase. He hopes to draw people that come downtown for plays and concerts.
Sutton intends to keep the large windows of the Ohio Edison office to give diners a view of downtown, although architects are working on plans for a bar with similar ambiance as the basement location.
Sutton said he hopes the changes downtown will encourage other restaurants to open so the area will become known as a place for eating out. Another downtown restaurant, the Courthouse Hub Deli & amp; Cafe, closed last week, however, with the owner citing a lack of business.
Sutton and Jerry Myers opened Martini's three years ago, but Myers has since left the partnership. Sutton had been executive chef of the former Paonessa's restaurant in Boardman and the Youngstown Club.
shilling@vindy.com