Dooney’s Downtown Grill opens, reinstates ‘Party’

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Dooney’s Downtown Grill & Bar opened its doors to the public Friday and brought back the Party on the Plaza, an event once popularized by Buffalo Wild Wings, which left the space at 50 E. Federal St. in June.

Owners at the new restaurant and bar announced earlier this month they had purchased the assets and liquor license from Buffalo Wild Wings shortly after it closed in June.

Chris Sammarone, Bryan Ridder and J.P. Daliman, all area attorneys, decided to go forward with their plans to open a new restaurant

when it became clear that Buffalo Wild Wings would fail to meet design requirements from the franchise.

Friday’s Party on the Plaza featured beer tents and bands. Dooney’s will begin offering a full menu today, and the bar/restaurant will have regular happy hours every week from 4 to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Renovations to the space included new carpeting, refinished surfaces, a fresh coat of paint and new wide-screen televisions and projection screens.

Nearly all the staff was retained from Buffalo Wild Wings, and the owners brought on one new hire, said manager Nick Danyi.

Dooney’s menu will be similar to the offerings at Buffalo Wild Wings, but it also will include pizza and Mexican entrees.

Friday saw a steady stream of deliveries and last-minute preparations while staffers at the restaurant were “trying to spread the word” and hoping for a good turnout, Danyi said.