REVITALIZATION Theater project moves forward

City native Peter Medure is bringing his restaurant experience to the venture.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- The long-awaited Warner Bros. Theater project is finally off the ground with a new restaurant, bar and entertainment project expected to open early next year.
The project will use space in the southern end of the Neisner-Centennial Building on East Washington and South Mill streets, site of the first theater operated by the Warner brothers, Youngstown natives who went on to become Hollywood movie moguls.
The brick buildings, which are connected by a wall, were crumbling about a decade ago when Tom George, Robert Bruce and their families stepped in to help reinforce them and create a Hollywood-theme tourist attraction around the theater.
Cascade Center at Riverplex was created, and the developers formed a partnership with the city, which was able to secure $5 million from the state to resurface streets and sidewalks in the area surrounding the development.
Mayor Wayne Alexander said Gov. Ed Rendell has committed more money to the downtown revitalization project, including a recently announced $2.1 million grant.
He said since George's development has gotten off the ground, other businesses are looking to locate downtown, including a furniture store and a Subway sandwich shop.
"At one time you could pick up buildings downtown for a low cost, but now they are expensive," Alexander said.
City Council President Christine Sands said she was in office when the "first brick fell" from the Neisner-Centennial Building in the 1990s. She said she always believed the George/Bruce project would get off the ground.
"There were naysayers, but it worked," she said.
In charge
Peter Medure, a New Castle native who has worked in restaurant and hotel management, agreed to open the restaurant and other amenities after seeing the developers' progress.
"It was exciting because I have friends and family who still live here," Medure said.
Medure left the area in 1986 and worked 10 years for the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co.
He then worked as corporate and administrative director with Fisher Scientific International in New Hampshire.
Most recently he spent three years as hotel manager/executive director of operations at The Westin Convention Center Hotel in Pittsburgh.
Medure, who lives in Cranberry, Pa., said he's been working on plans for the restaurant since February.
Mill Street Grille will be a 250-seat steak and seafood restaurant located on the second floor.
It will have an exhibition kitchen where diners can watch the chefs prepare meals.
The menu will include items in all price ranges with a wide array of wines, he said.
Within a few weeks of the mid-February 2005 opening of the restaurant, Medure said Stage 3 At The Warner Theater, a multipurpose entertainment area, will open.
It will include things such as comedy nights and dueling piano competitions.
Includes a bar
The third component, The Basin, a jazz and blues bar on the first floor, should open about a month later, he said.
The Basin will be connected to the Mill Street Grille via an elevator.
The name refers to the actual street name as it was listed in the early 1900s where the facility is located.
Medure said the three ventures will likely employ 65 to 70 people.
His brother, Jack Medure, will work as a kitchen supervisor, and the managing chef is from New England.
Medure's family has a long history in the food industry.
His parents, Matthew and Darlene Medure, operate Medure's Catering in New Castle, and his two brothers, Matthew and David Medure, just opened their fourth restaurant in Florida.
George said they are talking to about 22 other people about renting space in the facility and plan to make announcements as businesses make their commitments.
cioffi@vindy.com