3 ventures joining Wilkes Barre resurgence

Downtown Dunkin’ Donuts caf�-style store, Bourbon Street Saloon and a law firm to open in coming months

WILKES-BARRE – Three new businesses the proprietors described as upscale, vibrant and exciting will soon open in downtown Wilkes-Barre.

Owners of the operations – a Dunkin’ Donuts caf�-style store, the Bourbon Street Saloon and a law firm – said they are happy to be part of the city’s resurgence.

The Bourbon Street Saloon will open in mid-July, and owner Ron Kamionka, who also operates the Hardware Bar, said he will open a third venue in October. The third nightclub will likely be called Eclipse Dance Club, the name of his Harrisburg location.

Dunkin’ Donuts has targeted October for its opening. The law firm of Elliott, Greenleaf and Dean expects to start up in August.

Another business – an upscale cocktail lounge and nightclub called Luna – will open by the end of August, according to business partners Lorenzo Medico and Patrick Son.

Dunkin’ Donuts is making a return to downtown Wilkes-Barre in a new location with new features.

A Dunkin’ Donuts store had operated on Public Square near the F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts for years but closed in January. It now houses a Curry Donuts operation.

Mike Costa, president of Cope Enterprises, a Pennsylvania company with headquarters in Massachusetts, said he signed a deal with Humford Equities to open the coffee and doughnut shop at 39 Public Square, at the South Main Street corner. Costa said his company has reopened Dunkin’ Donuts stores in Wilkes-Barre Township, West Pittston and Wilkes-Barre.

“We’re very excited about being part of the city and community and both universities there,” Costa, 35, said. “Our plan is to open an upscale Newberry Street image, caf�-style store that will attract local students and professionals that work and visit the downtown.”

The caf� will offer free Wi-Fi and outdoor seating along the fountain, Costa said.

“The reason why we didn’t reopen the former shop is because that location didn’t fit what we wanted to do,” Costa said. “We wanted to open something new and exciting.”

Rob Finlay of Humford Equities said Elliott, Greenleaf and Dean will lease 3,500 square feet on the 10th floor of the office building that houses Frontier Communications. The law office is relocating from its South Franklin Street site.

Kamionka opened the Hardware Bar March 13, and expects the third bar will be serving customers by October.

“We’re trying to create a credible mass of quality facilities in the downtown,” Kamionka said. “Wherever we’ve gone, we have always been on the front end of developing these types of districts. If you have enough places, you become a destination.”

Kamionka said he is excited about the opportunities Wilkes-Barre provides and expects other businesses to locate in the downtown.

“All I can say is that we are thrilled at our success so far in downtown Wilkes-Barre,” Kamionka said.

Kamionka said the new bar will add 15 new positions and will be open 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. seven days a week. The three bars will employ 85 people.

“We’ll have a lot more tables and it will feature a much more relaxed, comfortable atmosphere,” he said of Bourbon Street.

“In the meantime, we will be sampling products to people at events like the Farmers Market,” Costa said. “We want to establish a presence in the downtown and our marketing and public relations people are already meeting with Chamber of Commerce representatives and the city to discuss possible partnerships.”

Kamionka said he hopes to open two more nightspots next year within one block of the Hardware Bar.

He said he is pleased with the foot traffic and said, “It can’t just be us down there; there have to be other players to create vibrancy in downtown.”

Attorney Jack Dean said his firm has offices in Philadelphia, Wilmington, Del., Blue Bell, Harrisburg and Scranton.

“Obviously, we see a great opportunity in downtown Wilkes-Barre,” Dean said. “We like what’s going on downtown and we are eager to have a presence there.”

Dean said the office will employ four attorneys plus support staff. Dean will work out of the Public Square office, as will attorneys Mark Bufalino, Paul Galante and Paula Radick.

“Mark and Paul recently joined our firm, and we have observed, over the last four years especially, the revitalization of downtown Wilkes-Barre,” Dean said. “It’s a growing community and a place where our law firm can both add to and benefit from that progress.”

Medico said Luna will be different from other bars in the region and will feature a city-like atmosphere that will cater to adults of all ages, but it won’t be a college bar.

“We will attract young professionals and the baby boomers,” Medico said. “We can’t reveal the exact location as yet, but it will be in the heart of downtown Wilkes-Barre.”

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