Restaurateur hopes idea proves fruitful

By David Skolnick

YOUNGSTOWN — Organic coffee, beer from small Northeast Ohio brewers, poetry readings, discussion groups and gourmet grilled-cheese sandwiches will be staples of the Lemon Grove, a downtown restaurant/bar expected to open in mid-June.

Jacob Harver, the Lemon Grove’s owner, says he wants his business at 122 W. Federal St. to be unique.

The floor and bar are being built from materials salvaged from a 160-year-old barn from Brookfield. He found the items for sale on Craigslist, a Web site featuring free classified advertisements.

“We’re trying to use as many recycled products as we can,” Harver said.

Harver and his construction crew are making the tables with Eric Alleman, a Cleveland artist and playwright, stenciling art on each of them.

“You can buy a table if you like it,” Harver said. “We’ll just make more.”

Also, local art to be displayed on the Lemon Grove’s walls will be for sale.

It’s costing more than $100,000 to turn the long-vacant, former pharmacy that had a big hole in the roof into the restaurant/bar, Harver said. The building is 99 years old.

“I wouldn’t do it anywhere else but downtown Youngstown,” said Harver, 26, born and reared in the city. “There’s a great misconception in the area that downtown is unsafe. But it is safe, and we have a great community business down here. There’s a resurgence. People are looking for places with character, and downtown Youngstown is full of character.”

The Lemon Grove has been in the works for about three years.

It was supposed to open in September 2008, but the project turned out to be bigger than anticipated, causing the delay, Harver said.

The restaurant will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 a.m., Harver said.

“We’ll sell as much local and natural products as possible,” he said.

The Lemon Grove will feature live music, theater, lecturers, discussion groups, poetry readings and art displays, he said.

skolnick@vindy.com