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Downtown store, deli to expand near YSU
Photo
Adi
By Chelsea Miller
Youngstown
For Al Adi, business always has been a family affair.
Adi works closely with his wife at Downtown Circle Convenience & Deli — a store they opened on West Federal Street in downtown Youngstown last year.
Now Adi, his wife and other family members are gearing up for growth. The family will open University Circle, modeled after Downtown Circle, this spring on Elm Street near Youngstown State University.
Two of his daughters, who attend YSU, help with day-to-day operations.
Although Adi’s mother does not live in Youngstown, he frequently asks her for business advice and recipes for the store’s popular Mediterranean-style deli.
“My mom was my main teacher,” Adi said, smiling. “Every time that I wanted to do something new, I’d send her an email and I’d tell her, ‘What is the best recipe to do?’ Even though I know, I always need her opinion.”
Working together keeps the family tight-knit, but Adi has found a family among Youngstown residents as well.
He has his regular customers who have been supportive of the business since its opening last summer.
“I’ve seen people just cleaning up outside, literally cleaning up trash and cleaning up things just to be supportive,” he said. “That’s beautiful, in my opinion.”
Adi said he hopes his newest business venture will produce the same reaction from residents.
Adi has begun renovating the former R&S Market near the corner of Elm Street and Madison Avenue for a new market, University Circle.
University Circle will have the same set-up as Downtown Circle and will provide groceries as well as Mediterranean dining with cafe-style seating. It will also provide check-cashing and money orders for patrons.
It’s the latest grocery-based addition to the city, which added three Bottom Dollar Food stores earlier this month, helping to curb the city’s longstanding tradition as a “food desert.”
The building is expected to open in mid-April, and Adi said he is catering to YSU students in particular.
“I think YSU students have been looking for a place to go in and buy their needs for their dorms,” he said. “So I think there’s going to be a lot of business coming from YSU and the neighborhood.”
YSU student Sarah Stepp visited Downtown Circle for the first time Friday with her boyfriend Tim Malone. Although Tim lives in Niles, he has been to the store before and said a University grocery store could be successful, if it keeps the costs low for cash-strapped students.
Malone added, however, that many people believe Youngstown businesses can’t be profitable.
“Everybody always emphasizes ‘a business like this in Youngstown,’” he said. “Why is Youngstown so much different than anywhere else? We’re just more negative and pessimistic.”
Adi acknowledged there have been issues operating the business in the city — including crime and break-ins.
But despite any challenges he’s faced, he believes the city of Youngstown is a good place to work, live and raise a family.
“I got attached to this city,” he said. “Even though people outside of Youngstown talk about the crime rates and all that, Youngstown is a real, beautiful, nice city that deserves attention from all the business people.”