Wednesday, October 29, 2014
YOUNGSTOWN
George Guarnieri, former owner of Belleria Pizzeria on Youngstown-Poland Road, is opening a new establishment downtown in February.
“As a kid, I loved the downtown,” he said.
The restaurateur will take over the former private Youngstown Club on the fifth floor of the Commerce Building, 201 E. Commerce St. He has renamed the 14,000-square-foot facility The Fifth Floor.
The new restaurant will retain the two banquet rooms. The dining room will have a formal setting, and the lounge will be casual. A wine bar will be installed between the two sections, Guarnieri said, adding that the menu will have a variety of food ranging from Italian dishes to steaks.
“It’s going to be a bit of everything,” he said.
On a small scale, the restaurant also will provide in-house catering for special occasions as both rooms combined can accommodate up to 80 people.
Guarnieri also commented on the condition of the building.
“Everything about it is still nice,” he said.
However, Guarnieri said updates were needed in some areas of the facility such as the drapes and the carpet to attract a younger demographic. The kitchen also needs some work. Renovating the facility would cost about $250,000, he said.
Despite some skepticism, the owner said he thinks that the business will attract people to dine downtown.
The fifth floor was added to the Commerce Building after Ohio One Corp. purchased the building in 1988. After construction was completed, the Youngstown Club located there a year later. However, membership was aging, and due to a lack of business, the club folded in December 2012, said Richard Mills, president of Ohio One.
“I couldn’t be more delighted that this facility is being put back to use,” Mills said, adding that the details are being worked out for the lease of the new restaurant.