Progress
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Downtown Dunkin’ Donuts caf�-style store, Bourbon Street Saloon and a law firm to open in coming months
3 ventures joining Wilkes Barre resurgence
BILL O ’ BOYLE
boboyle@timesleader.com
WILKES-BARRE – Three new businesses the proprietors described as upscale, vibrant and exciting will soon open in downtown Wilkes-Barre.
Read more Progress articlesOwners 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.
Costa said the new Dunkin’ Donuts will employ about 25 people.
“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.”
Bill O’Boyle, a Times Leader staff writer, can be reached at 829-7218.
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30 COMMENTS
Patrick said...
Are you kidding me! Bars and nightclubs? No wonder you don't see any families going downtown, I don't want my children around these types of businesses. For sure I would rather take my children to the mall in Wilkes-Barre Twp.
Rodney Danger said...
Wow! An"Upscale" bar, coffee shop, and legal advice all conveniently located near a parking garage that has a known problem making change from 2O's forget about the fifties or hundreds. They want young "professionals" around here. I guess the college ladies will have to go somewhere else too. It doesn't get any better than this around here folks.
turk said...
WOW! Dunkin Donuts! Can we say "upscale"? This is so exciting.
Allison said...
How bout opening something you go to during the day? I'm not downtown at night cause there is nothing open. Who will benifit from these night clubs during the hrs that they are open?
ex w-b native said...
YEAH, MORE BARS AND CLUBS, LIKE W-B NEEDS ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE...THEN WHEN THE DRUNKS GET IN TROUBLE, THEY CAN USE THE NEW LAW FIRM NEXT DOOR TO THE CLUB TO GET THEM OUT OF IT...I THINK W-B NEEDS SOME HELP WITH THE CRIME...THE POLICE HAVE THEIR HANDS MORE THAN FULL...THAT'S WHY IT'S OFF THE HOOK AT NIGHT DOWNTOWN, HOOKERS, DRUG DEALERS, DRUG USERS, HOMELESS, UNRULY TEENS, RACISTS, THAT IS WHO LOVES DOWNTOWN W-B!!!
cece said...
i agree with patrick,s comments totally,i grew up livig in this city,i walked the streets every day,never had any problems. i know times have changed and we aall must accept that!!!first if i want a cup of good coffee,where will i park? if i want to run in barnes&noble to pick up a book,where do i park? there are no parking spaces convenient for any reasons to go downtown,get my drift? i don,t even think the people who work downtown have places to park either,maybe you should try parallel parking. i still live in central city,i love it here,also thank you for the guardian angels. thank you for this type of feedback.
C.H. said...
More bars on the way? W.B. could then be listed in Ripley's Believe It or Not as a small city with the most bars. Will the local colleges use this as a selling point to attract new students? It's great that they will create jobs but who is going to foot the bill for the additional police services? Just how many liquor licenses are allotted to luzerne County by the LCB?
Good Old Days!!!!!!! said...
I have to agree with the other observers.With all these new watering holes opening up or being planned,i'm returning to my youth when South Main Street had places like; The Pirates Cove,Knorr's,Club Baghdad,Venetian Gardens,Ovalon,Joe Schmids,Hollywood Cafe,Butera's,The Rathskellar,Flat Iron,The Fern,Joe's Bar&Grill and others that i have forgotten.These were my best places to go Trick or Treatin.Way to go Mayor Leighton,i'll believe when your able to grow hair.
Jason said...
Are bars and nightclubs really considered a resurgence? I guess in Wilkes-Barre you have to take what you can get.
Harry Lewis, Scottsdale said...
More places to get fat and drunk in, get into trouble, and then find a shister lawyer to bail you out! What imaginative city planning!!! Yes indeed, sounds like a superb plan for the revitalization of a corpse.
Tom Paine said...
Some one should check out how one person could open 3 bars in 2 years and be doing it...LEGALLY!
Gorblat said...
No way!! wow thanks mayor another bar that will be closed in 12 month and Dunkin Donuts part II ! Come on tourists don't miss your chance to get some dunkin minis is the W-B.
Chris said...
Typical WB residents, nothing but complaints. Although this is admittedly a much smaller scale endeavor, these are probably the same people who complained about the arena coming to town. People amuse me, they want progress, business and commerce to come to the area, but more often than not, they can only sit back and criticize what's happening around them. I wouldn't worry about a coffee shop or a few bars being the cause of crime in the downtown -- it's been there for years. Hopefully progress will continue to work to move crime out. If not, that new law firm might benefit if it has any specialty in criminal law. All good things
Rhino said...
I welcome the three new businesses to the downtown! Granted they're not huge corporate offices locating to W-B but I'll take something over the current nothing depicted by the empty store fronts pictured with this article. Stop complaining... this isn't the worst thing to happen to W-B... not by a long-shot!
mark said...
A BAR! great! the problem is that I don't have any money due to the latest tax increase. Really another bar! wake up you bunch of coal miners.
Mike said...
With negativity like this its no wonder its taken so long for the downtown to develop. Any business is good, in my opinion, and I think that the citizens of this city should rally behind anyone willing to take a chance. You are acting like night clubs are a danger to society or something. Stop the nagativity its not only annoying, its not productive or helpful to our city.
said...
Glad to see everyones so positive about WB coming to life again. Everyone complains about the fact that downtown has nothing and yet when someone is bringing something to the downtown you complain just the same. Make up your mind...you are just being a hypacrit. I think it is great that someone wants to revitalize the downtown.
My own opinion said...
Everyone keeps complaining about how it's a bar and donut shop opening up. That's all it seems to be is complaining. At least there are things now opening up downtown whereas before there was nothing. I agree open something up for the young kids, such as an arcade or something. But stop complaining at least there is life downtown again. Let it be.
paul said...
Regarding new companies planning to relocate in Wilkes Barre. I agree with one of your reader comments. A bar would be a liability towards revitalization in downtown Wilkes Barre. If anything this type of establishment may attract rifraf and other undesirables into the area. Wilkes Barre has come a long way since the flood of 1972. Why not consider the following businesses: Johnny Rockets--1940/50 era hamburger milk shake restaurant, with a nickes juke box. Panera Restaurant, Starbucks,more Health Food Stores. Rocking Joes orgtanic coffee shop. A few more gyms would be a positive plus. Don't invite trouble, discourage undesirable businesses with a track record of trouble.
Lisa said...
I have to write in because of all of the negative comments.I agree with Chris,Rhino,Mike and the last two comments, people will complain of course,and it's impossible to please everyone.This is great news for the city,and to Mark,why the coal miner comment?Supposed to be proud of our heritage and ancestors,my grandfather,and a few uncles were coal miners,so what are you trying to say?? Without them,where would we be? I'm sure you wouldn't try to belittle them to their face?Looking forward to progress,in any form!
Muddywaters said...
Hey, Good Old Days, Is that you Bruce? And it wasn't Joes Bar and Grill, it was Jay's Bar and Grill, it was there since WWII and now it's gone. Good luck to any one who is in the alcohol dipensing business these days, liquor liabilty insurance, D.U.I's and legions of idiots make it a noble undertaking,although Jay's was on East Market st. it from the same era, like I said good luck........
ned said...
Please stop complaining... it is obvious that WB is being modeled off of 2nd street in Harrisburg. 2nd street is a very vibrant street packed with restaurants and nightlife. if you bring the nightlife the rest will come. "heads in beds" as the tourism and hotel people call it
Harry Lewis, Scottsdale said...
I know it's late in the afternoon in 'Lose'earn county, and most of the recent respondents are admittedly crying in their beer, but as a public service, would someone pls place a DICTIONARY in the local dives, the same way The Gideons place Bibles, so that the pickled patrons can at least spell correctly? And the 'nagativity' poor illiterate Mike speaks of, a recommendation, stick to single syllable words! And to the nameless one who struggled with 'hypacrit', no fruit cup for you this evening!Greetings from Scottsdale you cretin!
me said...
Why doesn't the city focus on helping boutique shops renovate the old, closed up buildings and move into them? Local artists' shops featuring hand-made pottery, hand-blown glass, paintings, handmade jewelry, real cafes (not donut shops), those types of boutiques? My husband and I love to travel (out of the area!) on day trips to towns that offer these kinds of tourist attractions.
J.W. said...
Hey, Chris, the arena isn't in W-B, it is in W-B Township, so the mayor of W-B can not claim it to his fame. And Chris, the Arena sucks too.
Jeff/VA said...
W-B needs other types of industry and retail than bars/nightclubs. Law firm(s) are a start. What is the chamber of commerce doing/working on? They should be full court press bringing in high volumes of industries that bring people downtown for work and spending. W-B you're on the right track with cleaning up your downtown, however you have a long way to go.
louie said...
Great, another bar-don't have enough already!?!? Never can have enough fine establishments that have such fantastic "family entertainment" as "frozen t-shirt"contests!!Please.....
Past Local said...
Great...ANOTHER BAR, oh, and don't forget the PIZZA!! Is that all WB can offer people?? Can anyone say 'UPSCALE'?Didn't think so.
Toxic said...
Finally. Wilkes Barre is going through a great change. i am finally happy living in wilkes barre.
Hunitngton said...
There seems to be so much animosity and negative feeling towards Downtown because all of those who complain and have been complaining are the same people who would never have the guts to open there own business or do something positive for Downtown, yet they sit back and play critic to those that do take chances and try to revitalize the area. Instead of being so negative and pointing fingers, those same people should be helping the new businesses and promoting them. If you look at the most successful cities, they all have one thing in common; a thriving nightlife scene. This is a good thing for Downtown. If the bars and nightclubs are all seedy dive bars, or grungy college watering holes, then there would be a problem, but they are certainly not. Now with the addition of this new upscale Luna, I am sure that we will see a change. All we need now is a few retail stores and Downtown will be on its way! Support your area and local business, don't knock them.