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Downtown Struthers grows with new businesses, parking area
By EMMALEE C. TORISK
STRUTHERS
With at least two new businesses set to open in May, and with the construction of a 17-space, off-street parking area beginning not long afterward, city officials said they believe downtown Struthers is showing signs of revitalization.
“We’re hoping for a chain reaction,” said Mayor Terry Stocker. “We’ve done a pretty good job of building the downtown from what it was to what it is now.”
Both he and Tony Fire, the city’s 1st Ward councilman, aren’t discouraged by the number of storefronts along State Street and South Bridge Street that remain empty. Any activity in the downtown means progress, Fire said, especially that which brings employment opportunities into the city and helps its tax base.
The 2 Bisous Studio at 2 State St. is tentatively set to open May 2, while Dell’s Cafe d’Italia at 14 State St. will open sometime in early to mid-May.
Meagan Albani, co-owner of the 2 Bisous Studio, said she was attracted to downtown Struthers after spotting Selah Restaurant, located in an old bank building at 130 S. Bridge St. She recalls liking the business’s reuse of an older building, as well as preservation of its character.
Albani wanted something similar for the space that would house 2 Bisous Studio, which will offer language classes and up-cycled, or re-purposed, European vintage items. She said she and her business partner — her mother, Elizabeth Albani — also appreciated the reasonably priced rent and the central location.
“It’s in the middle of everything,” she said.
Eric Dellarco, owner of Dell’s Cafe d’Italia, said knowing that 10,000 cars drive along State Street every day influenced his decision to open his authentic Italian cafe downtown. The Struthers resident said he also wanted simply to do business where he lived.
“I live in Struthers, and I was looking for something local,” Dellarco said. “I’m hoping it’s just going to bring more businesses to the area.”
So far, Dellarco has spent more than $25,000 on renovations and equipment. Everything at his cafe — from the pasta, to the panini, to the pizza — will be homemade, while items such as coffee and cheeses will be imported from Italy.
Both Albani and Dellarco agreed that timing of the new $150,000 parking area, which will be located on the east side of State Street and eliminate most on-street parking, is fortunate. Work on the project, which uses no general-fund dollars, should begin in July and last no more than 60 days.
“I think it’s very encouraging,” Albani said. “Safetywise, it will be a lot better. It also shows that there’s an interest in the downtown area and will encourage people to go to that area a lot more. It has a lot of potential.”