Thomas Welsh - Classic Restaurants of Youngstown

Published by American Palate

A Division of The History Press

Charleston, SC 29403

www.historypress.net

Copyright 2014 by Thomas Welsh and Gordon F. Morgan

All rights reserved

First published 2014

e-book edition 2014

ISBN 978.1.61423.926.0

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Welsh, Thomas G., 1961

Classic restaurants of Youngstown : Steel Town dining / Thomas Welsh Jr. and Gordon F. Morgan Jr., with the Mahoning Valley Historical Society.

pages cm

Includes bibliographical references and index.

print edition ISBN 978-1-60949-798-9

1. Restaurants--Ohio--Youngstown--History. 2. Youngstown (Ohio)--Social life and customs. 3. Youngstown (Ohio)--History--Social aspects. I. Morgan, Gordon F., Jr. II. Mahoning Valley Historical Society. III. Title.

TX907.3.O32W45 2014

647.9577139--dc23

2014006745

Notice: The information in this book is true and complete to the best of our knowledge. It is offered without guarantee on the part of the author or The History Press. The author and The History Press disclaim all liability in connection with the use of this book.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form whatsoever without prior written permission from the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

To Elaine M. Welsh, whose courage and support made this project possible.

Be not forgetful to entertain strangers:

for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

Hebrews 13:2, KJV

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This project benefited from the guidance and support of numerous colleagues, friends and relatives. We would like to offer special thanks to H. William Lawson, executive director of the Mahoning Valley Historical Society, for permitting the use of scores of historical images from the organizations vast collection. We would also like to thank Pamela Speis, archivist of the Mahoning Valley Historical Society, who provided invaluable assistance. Mrs. Speis not only tracked down volumes of material related to the history of local restaurants but also assisted in the selection of images that would eventually be included in this volume. Additional images were provided by David Michael Adams, Wendy Aron, Mike Avey, Bob Bakalik, Paula Berndt, Cecelia Bouslough, Nea Bristol, Anthony Cafaro Sr., Carmine Cassese, Vernon Cesta, Joseph Cherol, Nora Chrystal, George and Anna Dubic, James Esposito, Marycarmen Kelly, Lou Kennedy, Solomon Jack Kravitz, Morris Levy, George Mager, Mark Marino, Michele Orostin, Greg Petrakos, Anna M. Quaranta, Carlos and Celerina Ramrez, Carole Nudell Sherman, Gregory Speero Jr., Charlie Staples, Laurie Palazzo Sunyog, Janet Umbel and Deanna Vallos. During the early stages of this project, Michael K. Geltz offered assistance as a researcher and contributor. Throughout this process, we benefited from the guidance of Dr. George D. Beelen, retired professor of history at Youngstown State University, and Dr. Paul McBride, emeritus professor of history at Ithaca College. We received further assistance from public historians Joshua Foster, Ben Lariccia, Richard Quinn and Richard S. Scarsella, while Dick Nard provided copies of the wonderful illustrated maps he created of local hot spots in the 1950s and 60s. Also worthy of mention are the many people who agreed to be interviewed regarding their impressions of Youngstowns various restaurants. Interviewees included David Michael Adams, Stacey Adger, Dennis Alexander, Thomas and Florence Alexander, Bernadette DellArco Angle, Wendy Ziegler Aron, Mike Avey, Bob Bakalik, Dr. George D. Beelen, James D. Bennett, Paula Berndt, Beverly Blackshear, JoAnn Blunt, Douglas and Cecilia Bouslough, Sophia Brooks, Anthony Cafaro Sr., Thomas Campana Jr., Honorable Thomas J. Carney, Elder Rosetta Carter, Bob and Mary Lou Casey, Attorney Robert F. Casey, Carmine Cassese, Joseph Cassese, Vernon Cesta, Joseph and Laura Cherol, Sandra Cika, Joseph and Dorothy Courtney, Tim Curtin, Shirley Dangerfield, Gene and Jan DeCapua, Neil DellArco, Sherry DeMar, Bobby DeVicchio, James Gray Doran, Patti Ferraro Druzisky, George and Anna Dubic, Mary Ann Dudzik, Grace Einfelt, Michael and Loretta Ekoniak, Marilyn Abbott Emerick, Jim Esposito, Roberto Faraglia, Chris Palazzo Febinger, Donia Kravitz Foster, Joshua Foster, Attorney Robert S. and Elaine Fulton, Jim Graycar, Dr. Daniel Greenfield, Mary Hake, Jack Hamilton, Father John C. Harris, Jacob Harver, Faith Hodnick, Mervyn Hollander, Honorable Judge Joseph M. Houser, Josephine Houser, Linda Kravitz Kantor, Marycarmel Kelly, Julie Kennedy, Lou Kennedy, Patrick Kerrigan, Phil Kidd, Richard Koker, Rose Kravitz, Solomon Jack Kravitz, Dr. Fred Kurz, Connie Kushma, Ben Lariccia, Nick Lavanty, Thomas J. Leventi, Joseph Levy, Morris Levy, Bert Lockshin, Judith Lukin, Robyn Maas, George Mager, Rose Makosky, Dr. Kurt Malkoff, Rich Mamone, Amelia Marinelli, Mark Marino, Robert Marino, Nar Martinez, Dave Mastry, Dr. Paul McBride, James McNicholas, Marcia Melvin, Honorable Harry Meshel, Bill Mettee, Florence Mirkin, Steve Moritz, Carmen Naples, Dick Nard, Father Edward P. Noga, Minerva Nudell, Stan Nudell, Joe Nudo, Nick and Rose Pacalo, Dennis Palazzo, Marty Pallante, Jeff Palusak, George Pavlich, Jim Pernotto, Greg Petrakos, Mark C. Peyko, Judy Phillips, Joseph Planey, Ruth Fletcher Pope, Jim and Debbie Precurato, Tom and Kathy Price, Ann M. Quaranta, Jerry Quaranta, Ron Quaranta, Richard Quinn, Leroy Raffel, Carlos and Celerina Ramrez, Kate Ramunno, Jack Raver Sr., Dr. Regina Rees, Christian Rinehart, Marsha Robinson, Fred and Josephine Ross, Anne Massullo Sabella, Richard S. Scarsella, Chad Scianna, Carol Nudell Sherman, Pearl Berezo Sinistro, Robert Smitty Smith, Gregory Speero Jr., Charlie Staples, Laurie Palazzo Sunyog, Betty Swanson, Marilyn Sweeney, Jamie Szmara, John Thomas, B.J. Thompson, Jack Thorne, Bill Umbel, Janet Umbel, Deanna Vallos, William Vallos, Michael and Kanella Varveris, Dave Vasvari, Carmen Vecchione, George Wainio, William Wainio, T. Gordon Welsh, Dr. Frank P. Yanek, Patricia Lyden Yank, Fred and Soo Ja Yanoski, Edna Zaitzew and Roxanne Zoccoli. While conducting general research for this project, we benefited from the assistance of the following individuals: Debbie Bushmire, Sara Churchill, Sally Freaney, Stuart Gibbs, Suzette Hinson, Michele Mellor and Tim Seman, reference librarians at Youngstowns Reuben-McMillan Public Library. We owe a special word of appreciation to Elaine M. Welsh and Jeannette M. Welsh, who served as remarkably patient proofreaders.

Thomas G. Welsh Jr. and Gordon F. Morgan Jr.

January 25, 2014

Youngstown, Ohio

Introduction

DINING ON THE TOWN

In February 1970, Milt Simon, longtime owner of Youngstowns Mural Room, announced that his iconic restaurant would close after more than twenty years of operation. The news prompted a flurry of tributes from the numerous civic organizations that had used the restaurant as a regular meeting place. Situated near downtowns Vindicator Square, not far from the Art Deco building that housed the citys daily newspaper, the Mural Room had set a standard for elegant dining since 1945.

Over the years, it had become a major venue for holiday banquets, graduation parties and after-prom dinners, and its attractions included an elegant blue-and-green interior featuring murals of woodland scenery along the banks of the Mississippi. The real draw for the restaurants patrons, of course, was the Mural Rooms distinctive fare, which included salt sticks, onion rolls, tortes, chiffon pies and fresh salads featuring homemade dressings.