So here’s Youngstown’s TLDR on business, grand openings, events, etc. Grab a coffee and a seat—let’s chat!
200K GLOW UP?
Downtown Youngstown just scored $200K to start bringing a downtown revival plan to life because, after the pandemic, that messy gas explosion and more street closures, morale was about as low as my phone battery at 2%. $100K of that money will fund research to kick things off, and they’ve already started chatting with local business owners to ask what their downtown dreams are. The next step? Mapping out the magic to make them real. The plan wraps up in May, and here’s hoping it doesn’t end up as just another cute PDF gathering dust—Youngstown deserves the glow-up.
Patio Dreams, Party Scene, & One Iconic Ice Cream
Meanwhile, over at Southern Park Mall, get ready to sip spritzes al fresco like you’re summer royalty—FUN, right? Double Bogey’s has plans to add a 6,000‑square‑foot outdoor patio complete with a full bar for your cocktail couture, a firepit, and a rainproof canopy so your party never gets rained out.
Okay, fasten your seatbelt—we’re headed back downtown. Sorry if you’re getting whiplash on this tour. Downtown Youngstown just unlocked a new event center: The Apollo. It features soaring ceilings and ornate chandeliers. It makes me want to throw a party, and maybe I will!
Let’s not forget the sweetest scoop: Handel’s Ice Cream is turning 80 this year! Born right here in Youngstown, the iconic shop is still going strong, with more locations opening across the country—proving you can be vintage and fabulous. They’re keeping the birthday celebrations under wraps for now, so we’ll patiently wait for those sweet deets.
Your Spring Event Starter Pack
Country artist Riley Green is rolling into the outdoor amphitheater downtown on May 29th, and I know you’re lying if you say you don’t like The Worst Way. And WELL, if you really don’t—he’s reportedly single, 6’4", and pretty cute—so maybe sit close to the stage. Crazier things have happened, and I’ve heard no one can resist a Youngstown girl.
Federal Frenzy—the downtown music and arts festival happening April 25–26—just announced Ultra Q as its headliner. Cue up Meet Me in the Middle by them; it’s pure early-2000s Hollister-core nostalgia.
The Elm Road Drive-In is kicking off its season this weekend, and while it might be a little too cold for me to fully lean in just yet, I’ll definitely be there this summer soaking up all the retro-Americana charm. There’s just something so classic about watching a movie from the back of a popped-open trunk, popcorn in one hand and a Diet Coke in a paper cup in the other. Honestly, I’m already planning the outfit and the Instagram post.
Last but certainly not least, Yosteria is hosting an Italian Backyard BBQ on Sunday, May 4th, and it’s the outdoor spring escape you didn’t know you needed. The backyard charm makes you feel like you’re at a house party at your Grandpa Nino’s—even if you don’t have a Grandpa Nino. It’s not about rushing through a meal but lingering with a glass in hand under the open sky. Your ticket includes a curated menu, and with a cash bar on site, you already know a spritz (or two) is in your future.
