Zoldan considers move to Youngstown Cafaro headquarters

Phantom Fireworks owner says no plans to move until after July 4

By Kalea Hall

khall@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

As about 200 Cafaro Co. employees moved into their new offices in Niles on Tuesday, one local businessman considered moving his company into the old headquarters.

“It’s certainly one of our considerations,” said Bruce Zoldan, president and chief executive officer of B.J. Alan, a Youngs-town-based fireworks company that operates Phantom Fireworks.

“I can’t say today if it is definitive.”

The former Cafaro headquarters at 2445 Belmont Ave. was built in the 1960s. The building is two floors and about 44,000 square feet.

The total value of the property is $1,277,320, according to the Mahoning County Auditor’s website.

The building, the furniture and fixtures are all up for sale. An auction may take place later this summer.

“We haven’t finalized that,” said Joe Bell, director of corporate communications for Cafaro. “It could go to auction or it could be sold prior to that.”

The building also could be leased, Bell said.

The B.J. Alan Co. has its headquarters in downtown Youngstown, but also has offices and a warehouse in Warren at the former Delphi Packard facility.

“We aren’t consolidated like we should be,” Zoldan said.

Zoldan said the options he has include renovating the Delphi property in Warren and moving the corporate officers there, or finding another location in Youngstown.

“We prefer to stay in Youngstown,” Zoldan said.

Outside of the old Cafaro headquarters, Zoldan doesn’t have any other options in mind to house the company’s corporate offices.

“That doesn’t mean something else can’t come up,” he said.

Progress on a move will not happen until after the Fourth of July, the company’s busiest season.

The Cafaro Co. relocated Monday to its new headquarters at 5577 Youngstown-Warren Road in Niles at the Cafaro-owned Eastwood Mall Complex.

The new headquarters has three floors and is 50,000 square feet.

“For the most part, everyone is settling in,” Bell said. “It’s very similar to a first day of school.”