Wine, martini bar to enhance district

There will be a contest to name the bar.
YOUNGSTOWN -- The face of downtown is continuing to change and the announcement of yet another new business on the recently refurbished West Federal Street is just another step in that metamorphosis.
In a groundbreaking ceremony last week, city officials discussed plans for a $230,000 wine and martini bar on the site of the former First Federal Savings and Loan building.
The upscale bar is owned by Jeff Kurz, David Abrahamson and Brad Schwartz.
Youngstown Mayor George McKelvey applauded their vision.
"It's another example of young people investing in the future of Youngstown. We believe the future of downtown is arts and entertainment," he said.
How it got started
The project came together as a result of the collaboration of several agencies and banks, which included the city's economic development department, Central Improvement Committee, the Mahoning Valley Economic Development Agency and the U.S. Small Business Association.
T. Sharon Woodberry, program director of Youngstown Initiative, a part of the city economic development department, said the business, yet unnamed, will receive tax abatements for 12 years, a $32,000 performance grant, which means if the bar keeps operating for a mandatory three-year period the loan is forgiven.
She also noted that other incentives were provided such as $10,000 for improvements to the facade as well as waiver permits for building and water permits.
Another major boost for the project was the less expensive fees for liquor licenses for bars locating in a community arts and entertainment district.
Typically a liquor license on the open market from the Ohio Liquor Commission can cost as much as $40,000 to $60,000, making it prohibitive for many entrepreneurs.
Reduced fee
However, since Youngstown has a designated arts and entertainment district, the liquor license fee was only $2,300.
McKelvey said that the money saved will go into capital improvements for the building.
Kurz, a Youngstown attorney, who was a co-founder of the downtown arts and entertainment district, said that the business will open next March.
He said he and his partners believe they're in the right place at the right time.
"The time to be in Youngstown is now," he said. "Youngstown's not coming back -- it is back.
"The people that don't get into the market now will definitely regret it. People need to change their perception of Youngstown. Over $70 million dollars has been invested in Youngstown for capital improvement projects."
Long-term plans
He added that the partners plan to stay in downtown Youngstown for many years to come. He said they have a 15-year plan and want to do more downtown projects.
The two of three partners, Kurz and Abrahamson, first met when they were 7-year-old neighbors. They went to school together until high school when Kurz went to Cardinal Mooney and Abrahamson went to Poland. Then they both graduated from Kent State University.
Abrahamson said the two are not only business partners and friends, but "we're like family -- like brothers."
Kurz met the third partner, Brad Schwartz, from the Cleveland area, while attending graduate school. Schwartz, a business consultant, handles the operations side of the new business, while Kurz takes care of the legal matters and Abrahamson is in charge of construction.
Lavish and sophisticated
Abrahamson, a real estate appraiser with MJA and Associates, notes that the wine and martini bar will be lavish and sophisticated and provide the kind of amenities found in larger cities.
"We're bringing something to Youngstown that they've never seen here before. They're not going to believe their eyes," Abrahamson said.
He said they haven't named the bar yet. They're asking the public to get involved by submitting their ideas on their Web site at www.skalimited.com by Jan. 28. The person who comes up with the winning name will receive $500.
The bar will encompass two floors of the old bank building with a seating capacity on each floor for 250 patrons. In addition, the escalator, from the first to second floor will remain as a focal in the architecture.
Initially, a limited food menu of appetizers will be featured for the clientele, with plans to expand after the wine and martini bar has been in operation for a while.
The clientele
Abrahamson says the bar hopes to attract business professionals 21 and older offering them a place to get together and have good conversation. He said the music will vary, but it won't be loud and it will not have a typical night club crowd.
Abrahamson sees it as a destination before or after a performance at Powers Auditorium, other local theaters or events at Youngstown State University.
Kurz said many have asked why young professionals would invest in downtown Youngstown.
He said its simple, "We don't see what Youngstown was, we see what it can be. We're going to succeed."