'Live creatively,' urges restaurateur

Monday, August 28, 2006 Warren Redevelopment & Planning is helping the eatery get going. By AMANDA GARRETT VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF WARREN — Melissa Yohman-Murphy and her husband, Steve, have a motto for their life and their new Courthouse Square cafe. The Yohman-Murphys remember the "art of life" — whether they are serving handmade crepes or making Cuban sandwiches from scratch. "If there's one thing I want people to take away from the cafe, it is to remember to live soulfully, creatively and simply," she said. "It's the way I choose to live my life. If I couldn't live creatively, I would die." The motto is so important to them that they have it written on the walls of The Blue Iris Cafe, which opened two weeks ago at 176 N. Park Ave. Businesses like The Blue Iris Cafe will help revitalize downtown Warren, said Michael Maggiano, project manager for the Warren Redevelopment and Planning Corp. WRAP, under the umbrella organization Warren GROWS, is working with the Yohman-Murphys to promote their business, Maggiano said. "She [Melissa] told me, 'I know how to make a quiche, but I'm not sure how to market one,'" he said. "That's where we step in to help them." Maggiano and his team are working with Kent State University Trumbull Campus to create a market analysis to help businesses succeed in downtown Warren. The Yohman-Murphys, who both worked at a restaurant in Key West, Fla., personally fashioned their menu of crepes, specialty sandwiches and salads. So far, the Yohman-Murphys' outlook combined with their fresh cuisine are proving to be popular with locals. "We've doubled our business every day," she said. "A lot of things come from our experience as chefs," Melissa said. "Like the Midnight in Cuba sandwich, which is based on the Cuban sandwiches that are very popular in Key West." Background Melissa, a Niles native, and Steve met in his hometown of Pittsburgh while they were both attending The Art Institute of Pittsburgh's Culinary Arts school. "We bonded over cakes and pies," Steve said. The Yohman-Murphys returned to the Mahoning Valley after Melissa's mother, Karen, became seriously ill in June 2005. Melissa said the restaurant is dedicated to her mother's memory. Melissa co-owns the restaurant with her father, Michael Yohman, while Steve works as a chef. "But he gets the restaurant by default because he's married to me," Melissa said, laughing. The Blue Iris is only open for breakfast and lunch. Eventually, the Yohman-Murphys would like to expand into serving dinner full-time, but that is a long way off, Melissa said. "We're here from 5 o'clock in the morning till sometimes midnight," Melissa said. "It's takes an incredible amount of work to get this place going." agarrett@vindy.com