Downtown eateries, bars hope for strong Thunder impact

By DAVID SKOLNICK
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- When it comes to sports in this area, football is king.
With the Mahoning Valley Thunder arena football team kicking off its inaugural season Saturday at the Chevrolet Centre, downtown restaurants and bars are expecting business to pick up before and after the games.
Though Youngstown SteelHounds minor league hockey games help the downtown establishments' financial bottom line, several hope the af2 team will match or even succeed the hockey crowds.
Jeffrey Kurz, co-owner of Imbibe, a martini bar at 124 W. Federal St., said he expects to see a 30-percent increase in business for each of the Thunder's eight home games.
"It's going to be a good thing for us," he said. "We're expecting to do well because of the Thunder."
The bar plans to schedule happy hours before the games, and after each game will invite people to put their Thunder ticket stub in a box for a chance to have a free party in Imbibe's lounge, Kurz said.
Pre-game events
Martini's, located in the basement of City Centre One, 100 E. Federal St., will hold parties in the building's parking lot before every Thunder home game, except Saturday's opener.
The restaurant will have food, music, beer and giveaways at the pre-game parties, said Matt Sutton, Martini's owner. The parties, beginning with the Thunder's April 21 game, would run from 5 to 7 p.m. The games start at 7:05 p.m.
"With the pre-game, we'll do well," he said. "We're a football town. Hockey's been successful for us. ... Football will be more successful. There's kind of a feeling of excitement" about the af2 league season.
Cafe Cimmento, 120 E. Boardman St., will have parties at its restaurant after each of the Thunder's eight home games.
The Chevrolet Centre can hold up to 6,000 for Thunder games. The games are going to be major draws for the facility and bring thousands of people to the city's downtown, said Claire Maluso, the city's Federal Plaza director.
"Those coming for the football games who haven't been downtown in years will see all that we have to offer and will come here other times," she said. "Af2 will be a good draw for downtown. I think it's going to be real exciting for the community."
Business picks up at Buffalo Wild Wings, 50 E. Federal St., before and after SteelHounds games and concerts, particularly Friday and Saturday nights, said Justin Pancake, general manager of the restaurant and bar.
Getting ready
Pancake isn't sure how the Thunder will affect Buffalo Wild Wings but is optimistic.
"I'm hoping for increased traffic," he said. "It's new, and I don't know what to expect. It is a football town. It depends on who goes to the games; if it's a group of guys, families or fathers and sons. We do better when it's buddies going out for a couple of beers. If it's like a hockey night, we'll be busy."
Despite his uncertainty, Pancake said he will have extra staff at Buffalo Wild Wings for all of the Thunder games anticipating and hoping that the football crowd will come before and after.
Though Cedar Lounge and Restaurant at 23 N. Hazel St. is a bit of a walk for those attending events at the Chevrolet Centre, the establishment sees an increase in customers before and after SteelHounds games, said B.J. Judd, manager.
"Hopefully we can get more business on Saturdays with football," she said. "I hope it's at least the same as the SteelHounds. I hope it helps all of downtown."
Cedar closes at 11 p.m. Saturdays, but if there's a crowd, the restaurant and bar extends its hours, she said.
If the Thunder crowd is anything like those who attend SteelHounds games, the Downtown Draught House, 219 W. Federal St., will do well, said bartender Kelly Gordon.
"I hope it will help business," she said. "I'm sure everybody hopes so. If it's like the SteelHounds, we'll do well. The SteelHounds have done well for us on weekend games."
skolnick@vindy.com