The Cell, a closed bar, will reopen with new owner

YOUNGSTOWN — A Belmont Avenue bar, closed in January when a judge declared it a public nuisance, is planning to reopen under new ownership as early as Dec. 10.

Judge John M. Durkin ordered The Cell at 221 Belmont Ave., across from the Mahoning County jail, be boarded up and padlocked Jan. 8 until it was sold. The order was made at the request of the city because of complaints of underage drinking at the bar. City police responded to incidents there 99 times over a period of 2 1/2 years before it was closed.

It took a while but Jason M. Moore, who owned the bar, sold it to Jamie Palumbo of Hubbard, said Richard LaCivita, the new owner’s attorney, and city Prosecutor Jay Macejko.

Palumbo agreed to a number of stipulations from the city to have the bar reopen, LaCivita and Macejko said.

Those stipulations include changing the admission age to the bar from 18 to 21, and requiring all employees to go through a state-sponsored program to help them identify those who are drunk and/or underage and shouldn’t be served alcohol, Macejko said.

At the recommendation of city officials, Judge Durkin agreed to allow Palumbo to remove the boards and padlocks from The Cell, which began Monday.

Palumbo wants the bar to reopen Dec. 10, but the sale of the liquor license first needs to be approved by the state Department of Liquor Control, LaCivita said. It isn’t known when that approval will be given.

For the complete story, read Wednesday’s Vindicator or Vindy.com