Antone’s owner turns deed over to bank

By Kalea Hall

khall@vindy.com

BOARDMAN

Ross Scianna is no longer the owner of Antone’s Banquet Centre.

Scianna turned over the deed to his business at 8578 Market St. to the mortgage holder, Cortland Savings and Banking Co., on Wednesday.

SDLqAt this point we are in the process of securing the building,” said James Gasior, Cortland Savings and Banking Co. president and CEO. “Until we get a handle on how we can proceed with it, we are taking possession of it.”

Gasior said eventually the goal is to find someone to take over the property. On Thursday, the bank had Mahoning County deputy sheriffs stand guard as a locksmith changed the locks at the banquet center. Last week, the phone at the business was disconnected.

Rumors of Antone’s closing have circulated throughout the community since February after a former employee contacted customers with booked events to tell them the venue was closing. The former employee told The Vindicator that Scianna had instructed her to do so. Scianna continually denied his business was closing. Scianna could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Antone’s history dates back to 1961 when Helen Scianna Gianfrancesco, Ross Scianna’s mother, opened Antone’s Restaurant and Confetti Lounge on Market Street in Youngstown, according to the company’s website.

The Market Street location was in operation for 28 years.

Now, brides and others with scheduled events at the banquet center have had to seek out other venues.

Lori Crowl said she was never contacted by Antone’s about the closing.

“If I were unplugged from the world, I would think I still had that venue,” said Crowl, who had her wedding booked at Antone’s on May 27.

Crowl has since found a new venue, but she is unsure how or if she will be able to get the $1,000 deposit back she put down on her wedding reception.

“It is an added stress that no bride needs,” she said.

Campbell High School recently booked The Georgetown in Boardman after there was concern about Antone’s remaining open for the May 12 prom. Campbell’s Class of 2018 raised funds for the prom and put a $500 deposit down to have the event at Antone’s.

“We will do our due diligence to recuperate our deposit for our students,” said Matthew Bowen, Campbell schools superintendent. “We want to thank all the different banquet centers that reached out to us and were willing to accommodate us.”

Poland Seminary High School opted to move its May 5 prom to The Georgetown, ending a yearslong run at Antone’s. The school said it did not lose any money.