Tuesday, December 3, 2013
By EMMALEE C. TORISK
STRUTHERS
Despite originally being closed for “remodeling,” the Struthers location of Los Gallos Authentic Mexican Restaurant and Sports Cantina will not reopen.
Neither will The Cellar, the rock venue in the basement of the 162 S. Bridge St. building, according to a letter written by Israel Zambrano, Los Gallos’ owner, and addressed to Struthers Mayor Terry Stocker, the city’s police department and officials, and “all the wonderful citizens of Struthers, Ohio.”
The letter was posted on the websites for both Los Gallos and The Cellar, and is dated Nov. 26.
In the letter, Zambrano explains that when he decided to open a location in Struthers in 2011, he was “determined to make it a beautiful restaurant for the citizens of Struthers,” and also wanted “to bring back entertainment to the area for everyone to enjoy.”
Just last month, Zambrano told The Vindicator that the Struthers location would feature a full bar, but a limited menu, once it reopened. Zambrano closed the restaurant Nov. 15, claiming it would reopen in about two weeks.
Instead, in his letter, Zambrano says that “sometimes in life you have to make decisions that truly break your heart,” and that “this is one decision I hate to announce but unfortunately it has to be done.”
Zambrano noted Los Gallos’ other locations — in Austintown, Bedford, Boardman, Howland, North Lima and, most recently, downtown Youngstown — had been “keeping the Struthers location operable.”
In closing, Zambrano emphasizes that it’s not easy for him to walk away, but thanks his customers for allowing him to “do business in this fine community.”
Stocker called the city’s relationship with Los Gallos a good one. The mayor added he’s hopeful another business that complements the downtown will soon scoop up the space.
About 10,000 cars a day drive through there, he added.
In May, Judge R. Scott Krichbaum of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court issued a judgment against Los Gallos in the amount of $21,377 — the amount that Los Gallos owes The Vindicator for an unpaid advertising bill.
The Vindicator and Los Gallos are still in the midst of the newspaper’s lawsuit for said bill.