City shuts down Jitso’s Place, site of trouble

Staff Report

YOUNGSTOWN

A longtime East Side nightclub is temporarily closed, and city Prosecutor Jay Macejko hopes it eventually will be shut down for good.

Macejko asked for and received a temporary restraining order to board up Jitso’s Place bar, 2023 McGuffey Road, as a public nuisance.

Magistrate Dennis Sarisky of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court issued the order Thursday.

The bar was boarded up pending a 1:30 p.m. June 8 hearing before Sarisky on Macejko’s complaint.

Over the last four years, city police have received 242 calls to Jitso’s for weapons offenses, shootings, loud music and liquor-law violations, according to the restraining order.

During that time, state liquor agents have made arrests there for after-hours alcoholic beverage sales, drug possession and hindering an inspection. The TRO was issued against Charity L. Shockley of Columbus, the building owner, and Lenora E. Evans of Austintown, liquor-license holder, and gives the state authority to seize and hold Jitso’s liquor license until further court action occurs.