A Mexican restaurant in downtown Youngstown is out of business, gallery liquidating


By David Skolnick

skolnick@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

A Mexican restaurant that opened downtown less than a year ago has closed, and an art and collectibles store, also downtown, is looking to liquidate its inventory through an online auction.

Los Gallos Authentic Mexican Restaurant and Sports Cantina closed its downtown location in the Valley Center — the former Plaza Parking Deck at 120 E. Boardman St. — a few days ago, said Mary Ann Gross, the company’s administrative assistant.

“The main problem is we’re on the wrong street,” she said. “It was a battle to get people to come to Boardman Street” from Federal Street, where most of the downtown restaurants are located.

Meanwhile, Greyland Gallery — which sells art, collectibles and furniture at 23 W. Boardman St. — is currently closed in preparation for an online auction that ends at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 6. The future of the location will be determined sometime after the auction, said Rocco Sait, its owner.

Los Gallos, which opened in November 2013, did great business when the nearby Covelli Centre hosted major shows, Gross said. “But a concert every three to four months isn’t going to make” the business successful, she said.

Before Los Gallos, Cafe Cimmento, also a restaurant, operated out of that space for about seven years before closing in April 2013.

The building is owned by Higher Education Partners, a Providence, R.I., business, and partner of Eastern Gateway Community College, which is located at Valley Center.

HEP will look for another tenant for the Los Gallos spot, said Stephen M. Wynne, the company’s vice president of finance.

Los Gallos closed its Struthers location the same month it opened in Youngstown.

The business still operates in Austintown, Boardman, Howland, North Lima and Bedford. The Boardman restaurant is undergoing an improvement project, Gross said.

As for Greyland, in the A-1 Parking building at the former Wig Warehouse location, it isn’t going out of business, though it currently isn’t open, Sait said.

“We’re getting rid of our items,” he said. “But Greyland isn’t disappearing. We’re not selling our cash register or computers.”

The business currently operates as “event space, a thrift store and an art gallery,” Gait said.

Though no final decision has been made, Gait said he’d like to make Greyland a music and art venue.

The store is open from 1 to 3 p.m. Nov. 2, and 4 to 6 p.m. Nov. 6 — as well as by appointment — in preparation for the auction closing, which is 7:30 p.m. Nov. 6. All items purchased online must be picked up in person at Greyland from 2 to 5 p.m. Nov. 9.

The items, which are lined up inside Greyland, can be viewed online at www.byce-online.com and includes audio equipment, sculptures, jewelry and furniture.