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‘Fulfilling Our Goal’

New Downtown Businesses Enjoy Successful First Year

The new outdoor seating area used during warmer months at The Corner Cafe, the new quick stop-and-go meal option restaurant that opened earlier this year at 122 E. Third St., Jamestown. P-J photo by Dennis Phillips

A couple of new downtown business have been well received by the community in their first year.

The Corner Cafe opened at 122 E. Third St. earlier this year as part of the renovations done at the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts. James Crocitto, Reg Lenna LLC general manager, said the new healthy foods to-go, with many items already prepared for a quick stop-and-go meal option, has been well received by the community.

“We are fulfilling our goal as a fresh place for people to get food in the neighborhood. The police and fire departments love us,” Crocitto said about how The Corner Cafe is located across Spring Street from the city Municipal Building where the Jamestown Police and Fire departments are located. “The community has been good and they have been supporting us everyday.”

Crocitto said now with the newly opened Buffalo Bill Billboard room people have a place to sit indoors and enjoy a bite to eat. The Buffalo Bill Billboard room houses the famous 1878 poster and includes tables, chairs and couches so people can eat a salad or a sandwich while viewing the billboard. The poster was originally pasted on an exterior building wall on Pine Street in 1878 to advertise a play about Buffalo Bill Cody, which was rediscovered in 2002 behind a crumbling wall.

“The Buffalo Bill billboard is the oldest and largest paper billboard in the U.S.,” Crocitto said.

Crocitto said the new restaurant’s menu has been changing regularly as they adjust to what people enjoy the most.

“We are always running features on Facebook and we have a weekly drawing for dinner and movie tickets,” he said.

When asked if there will be anything new in 2019, Crocitto said they’re going to continue what they are doing because people seem to enjoy the food and items prepared fresh each day at the restaurant.

“Consistency will pay off and people will enjoy it,” he said.

The restaurant is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, visit reglenna.com or call 499-9174.

Another new downtown business is not completely new. Venue 31 is a new event space opened by Events by Scott, which is a full-service planning company that specializes in planning all types of parties operated by Scott Mekus and Bill Burley, who purchased the two-story building originally built in 1910 that was formerly known as Carlson’s Jewelry.

The event space location is named Venue 31 because it is located at 31 N. Main St. on the corner of Main Street and First Street.

Mekus said the well-known historical building is the perfect location for birthday, holiday and dinner parties, as well as an ideal spot for small wedding receptions, bridal / baby showers, corporate meetings, learning classes, vendor fairs and more. The handicapped accessible first floor space holds up to 60-seated people or more depending on the type of event.

Mekus said the community reception of the new venue location has been exciting.

“We’ve been busy with rentals since we opened our doors,” Mekus said. “It’s not always easy being small business owners, but I have to say Bill (Burley) and I are so fortunate to be able to offer a nice venue to the community where everyone has been so supportive. From our valued contractors to our pleasant customers and collaborating neighborhood businesses, the journey has been rewarding.”

With the South Main Street bridge now open since it’s temporary closure earlier this year, Mekus said Venue 31 is more visible with event reservations currently being accepted for 2019.

For more information or to book/tour Venue 31, contact Mekus at 720-0564, e-mail smekus@eventzbyscott.com, visit eventzbyscott.com. or visit Venue 31’s Facebook page.

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