TRUMBULL COUNTY Center Stage manager discusses melee, image

Service was shut down after patrons began calling barmaids names, the owner said.
By SHERRI L. SHAULIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
NILES -- Concerned the public has a tarnished image of the Center Stage Grille and Bar, the general manager said he's worked with public and private officials to ensure a recent fracas is not repeated.
"We are not a nightclub," said Larry Tura, owner and general manager of the Center Stage. "We are primarily a restaurant, a family-run business."
Tura held a press conference Tuesday to discuss the events surrounding an April 9 near-riot outside the establishment, which is adjacent to the Eastwood Expo Center.
What happened
After a concert from a hip-hop recording artist, patrons attending an after-party at the Center Stage began fighting, spilling out into the parking lot around 1 a.m. One person was injured by gunfire and a police officer was hit over the head and face with a glass bottle.
Several people were arrested and are scheduled for preliminary hearings today in Niles Municipal Court.
Tura said reports that the establishment ran out of alcohol were not true. Rather, he said, several factors may have contributed to the unruliness of the crowd.
Tura said patrons were upset that the headlining act Juvenile was rescheduled to perform at the end of May in Akron, and that some were turned away from the after-party because the Center Stage's banquet room had reached its capacity.
He also said Center Stage employees temporarily shut down bar service when some patrons became unruly and disrespected the staff.
"They were calling the barmaids some foul names," he said.
Led to evacuation
A single fight broke out in the banquet room, Tura said, and when a Niles police officer tried to break up the fight he was struck in the head and face with a bottle. At that time, Tura said, employees evacuated the banquet room.
"As to the fighting outside and the shooting incident, I didn't personally witness it, so I can't comment on it," he said.
Tura stressed that the Cafaro Corp. and representatives from Center Stage have met with police Chief Bruce Simeone and Mayor Ralph A. Infante to discuss what happened and how similar situations could be prevented. He added that during their meetings, none of the officials looked to place blame on any one person for the melee.
"I'm the last one to point a finger at anyone," Tura said. "I'm sure there's enough blame to go around."
In the meantime, Tura said, the Center Stage will continue to operate as a family-style restaurant and participate in events held at the Eastwood Expo Center.
"We want people to know they are welcome to come here, and they are welcome to have a good time here," he said. "But they need to know that it's going to be controllable."
slshaulis@vindy.com