For many, Saturday’s Steelton Run of the Mill Bar Crawl was a trip down memory lane.
“I’m seeing people I haven’t seen in a very long time,” said Mike Ray Sr. of Youngstown, having a drink in the Vista Lounge on Donald Avenue with a couple of friends, Jack Martin of Youngstown and Kevin Gura of Boardman.
Ray’s son, Councilman Mike Ray, D-4th, who represents the Steelton area, organized the bar crawl to raise funds to clean up and green up four vacant lots in the area, and raise awareness of some of the neighborhood bars and restaurants in the area that still are very much alive.
Youngstown’s West Side has more than 200 businesses, including those in the Ohio Industrial Park, said Councilman Ray.
Cleaning up the neighborhood improves its appearance and reduces crime, he added.
Partners in Saturday’s effort included the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber and Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp.
“This [the bar crawl] is a good way to reintroduce former residents and introduce new people to the neighborhood,” said Lauren Johnson, the Chamber’s 422 Corridor Project coordinator.
The 422 Corridor Project is a comprehensive effort to revitalize and stabilize the industrial area and neighborhoods between Liberty Street in Girard and the state Route 193 interchange in Youngstown.
While the bar crawl had community improvement goals, its participants also pursued having a good time.
“It’s a good idea. It brings the community together, and it’s a good time,” said Ray Sr.
“It’s good to see the camaraderie. It brings back memories. Probably a lot of people thought some of these bars were closed. This is a good idea. I hope they do it again,” said Martin.
“After seeing the menu at Molly’s, I plan to come back,” he said.
“I’m definitely having fun while supporting a good cause,” said Gura.
For those who didn’t want to drive, a bus donated by Community Bus Services shuttled people from Sts. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church on North Belle Vista, the starting point, bar to bar between noon and 5 p.m. About 150 people participated, driving their own vehicles and riding the shuttle, Councilman Ray said.
Steve Stevenson and Christine Bovo, both of Youngstown, who usually ride a Harley Davidson, said the shuttle service was handy.
“We’re having a few cocktails, one in each venue,” said Stevenson.
The event is fun, and it’s nice it will help the community. It’s also nice to see people that live in Youngstown come back to the old neighborhood,” he said.
Cole and Sandy Pentz of Youngstown, who live in the Steelton neighborhood, said participating in the bar crawl was a fun way to support the area while having a beer at the Catholic War Veterans Post 1292 on Steel Street.
They frequent Molly’s because the food is excellent and inexpensive, said Cole, whose father, Ronald Pentz, worked 40 years at The Vindicator before retiring as superintendent of the composing room.
Cedars West End, a relatively new face on the bar scene in Steelton, brought rock ’n’ roll to the area, said owner Billy Danielson, after relocating from downtown to Steel Street.
“We’re trying to bring diversity to the neighborhood with rock bands playing on Fridays and Saturdays. I think the people are interested in what we are doing,” he said.
“Our crowd followed us here,” he said. “When you turn people on to good, original music, it’s a privilege.”
One of the stops was Kenny K’s Bar & Grill on Salt Springs Road, where a local band, Captain’s Mast, donated musical entertainment for the day.
The event was a “shot in the arm” for his bar Saturday, said owner Ken Kester, who hopes it will carry over and entice people to come back.
“I can’t give Councilman Ray enough praise for working to clean up the area and let people know we are here,” Kester said.
“These are great community bars where people can have a good time and enjoy great food. Don’t count us out,” he said.
To read the full story on vindy.com, click here.
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