By Denise Allabaugh, Staff Writer
Published: June 25, 2009
WILKES-BARRE - Despite an economic downturn, businesses continue to set up shop in downtown Wilkes-Barre.
Two more restaurants and bars are opening while another is expanding. A pizza and hoagie shop is planned and a cafe featuring gourmet cookies is close to opening its doors.
Gage Restaurant and Bar will open at North Main and East Union streets in August, said Anna DelleCave, who will run the restaurant with her sister Grazia Reedy and brother Gennaro DelleCave. They signed a two-year lease with owner Thom Greco, she said Wednesday.
Since the building was constructed in 1980, it has changed hands many times. Greco purchased it in the 1980s when it was the Grogg Shoppe. Since then, it housed the Hacienda Restaurant, Heartbreaks, Harrigan's Irish Pub, Bazookas and Martini Ristorante and Bar. Greco later leased Martini's to Guy Izzo and Ed Missal. It was subsequently Aprilia's Restaurant and Nono's Restaurant and Bar. Nono's closed more than two years ago, shortly after it opened.
Despite its history, DelleCave said she believes it is a good location and their restaurant will be a success.
"I live in downtown and I see all the things that are coming up and about down here," said DelleCave, a former waitress for Rodano's and Januzzi's.
On the first block of South Main Street, work is progressing on former Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguin Dennis Bonvie's Blue Chip Gourmet Cafe at University Corners and a pizza and hoagie shop, Pronto Via Pizzeria, next to the walkway that will connect to a new transportation center. Marcello Ameti, owner of Cafe Toscana on Public Square, owns the shop.
In the second block of South Main Street, Bart & Urby's will expand. Co-owner Brian Urbanas will open a club where bands will perform next to his restaurant. It will take at least four months to complete, he said.
While he is excited about more restaurants and bars downtown, he also would like to see more retail developments. When too many restaurants and bars open, he said it could "come to a breaking point."
Across from the post office on South Main Street, the late Magisterial District Judge Michael Collins' former office at 264-268 S. Main St. is being converted into Wilkes Bar & Grill, which will include a restaurant and bar on the first floor and 16 upscale apartments upstairs. Sam Johnson, who purchased the building for $185,000 in 2004, said he hopes to open the apartments by September and the restaurant and bar by November.
The new businesses are a sign of a strong downtown despite the recession, said Todd Vonderheid, president of the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry. Citing a new Brookings Institution report that ranks the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton/Hazleton metro area 22nd among the nation's largest 100 largest metros in economic performance for the year's first quarter, Vonderheid said, "What we're seeing in the downtown is a demonstration of that strength."
"We were so underserved for so long in the downtown that even during these difficult times, people feel there's a market to invest in and take advantage of," he said.
dallabaugh@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2115 n Bart & Urby's, 115 S. Main St. Expanding into club, where bands will perform. Work expected to take at least four months.
n Blue Chip Gourmet Cafe at University Corners, South Main and East Northampton streets. Work progressing on the gourmet cookie shop.
n Gage Restaurant and Bar, North Main and East Union streets. Opening set for August.
n Pronto Via Pizzeria. Will feature pizza and hoagies next to the walkway that will connect transportation center to South Main Street.
n Wilkes Bar & Grill, 264-268 S. Main St. Restaurant and bar on the first floor and 16 upscale apartments upstairs. Opening of restaurant tentatively set for November.