Youngstown, Ohio, USA
Created | Updated Mar 16, 2002
Located at the Ohio-Pennsylvania border and about 60 miles from Cleveland, this former steel-town has a rich history but a bleak future. In the former half of the 20th century Youngstown was a prosperous city, the pride of the Mahoning Valley. Birthplace of several celebrities including the famous mallbuilding Debartlo and Cafaro families, most of the big businesses moved out after the devastating depression of the 70's, brought on by the collapse of the steel industry, Youngstown's main staple. Despite attempted revivals by the municipal government, Youngstown will never be more than a shadow of its former glory.
Things to do and see in Youngstown:
Despite the rather gloomy atmosphere of this article, Youngstown still has a lot to offer in the way of sightseeing and recreation. Here are some of the most prominent attractions:
The Arts:
Youngstown has always been a great center of the arts. Here are it's most poplar art places. (Editor: Please try to find a better word than "Art places".)
The Butler Institute of American Art
524 Wick Avenue
Youngstown, Ohio 44502
(330) 743-1711
The Butler Institute of American Art, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is the first structure built in the United States dedicated to house priceless works by American artists. Owning more than 10,000 permanent works of art, which travel all over the world, the Butler showcases masterpieces by Audubon, Winslow Homer, Remington, Mary Cassatt and more. The museum, housed in a classically designed monument of Georgian and Carrara marble, is itself considered an architectural masterpiece and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Joseph G. Butler, Jr., built the institute as a gift for the people of Youngstown. All group tours are treated to a special guided tour highlighting the finest works in the museum. Admission is free, donations are accepted. Closed on Mondays.
The Youngstown Playhouse
600 Playhouse Lane
Youngstown, Ohio 44511
Located across from the Mill Creek Park Entrance on Glenwood Avenue, the Youngstown Playhouse was founded in the 1920’s, with the established Youngstown Players. The Playhouse is the only community theater in Ohio to receive Major Institution Support from the Ohio Arts Council. It has achieved national recognition as one of the country’s oldest, largest, most respected community theaters. The season runs from September to June and also has a mid-summer production running on the weekends in August.
The Youngstown Symphony Orchestra
Edward W. Powers Auditorium
260 Federal Plaza West
Youngstown, OH 44503
Organized in 1926, the symphony society offers a subscription series, pop series, opera, ballet and classical film showings. It also sponsors a Symphony chorus, opera chorus and youth orchestra. Even if you aren't interested in syphony orchestras, at least drive by to see the spectacular neoclassical building.
Edward W. Powers Auditorium
260 Federal Plaza West
Youngstown, OH 44503
Organized in 1926, the symphony society offers a subscription series, pop series, opera, ballet and classical film showings. It also sponsors a Symphony chorus, opera chorus and youth orchestra.
Youngstown State University
410 Wick Avenue
(330) 742-3000
Youngstown State University is an accredited, state affiliated institution with an outstanding record of academic achievement, public service and physical growth. Situated in metropolitan Youngstown, the University is the center of cultural and recreational opportunities that extend its resources beyond campus. The Academic sector of the university is made up of seven major units offering over 100 undergraduate majors at the associates and bachelor’s levels, as well as 21 masters degrees. Tour are available to the public. Please call for scheduled times and dates.
Parks
There are 2 major parks in youngstown.
Mill Creek Park
This is a very large and beautiful park, perfect for hiking. While you're there, be sure to visit Lanterman's Mill, one of the most famous landmarks in the Youngstown.
Boardman Park
This park is much more tame and mild. Perfect for picnics, but not so impressive for hiking.
Places to Shop and Eat
Youngstown is the hometown of the father of former San Fransico Fortyniners owner, Edward J. Debartlo Jr., whose name happens to be, (who would have guessed!), Edward J. Debartlo Sr.! He was one of the worlds greatest mall developers, so be sure to check out:
The Southern Park Mall
7401 Market Street
(330) 758-4511
A state of the art shopping mall complete with full food court and over 100 different stores, including big department stores like Sears and Kaufman's, smaller chain stores like Camelot Music and Suncoast Videos (the latter is the only place in America I've found Red Dwarf videos in abundance.), lots of little trendy stands with neat stuff, and a big Victoria's Secret store, in case you want to pick up a catalouge for the trip home. ;-) THE place to shop in Youngstown.
The Boardman Plaza
255 Boardman-Canfield Road
(330) 726-8188
The Boardman Plaza is another nice place to shop. There is a nice Chinese resturaunt there that I will mention in the Dining section.
The Shops at Boardman Park
422 Boardman-Poland Rd.
629-8301
Located next door to the aforementioned Boardman Park, this is another popular shopping center. (Forgive me if I don't go into detail as much, but there's really not much to say.
Twice-Loved Books
19 E. Midlothian Blvd.
(330) 783-2016
A great place to find rare and used books. I once bought a (used) rare edition of the Restraunt at the End of the Universe for $2.00 there.
Dining
Handels Homemade Icecream
3931 Handel's Court
(330) 788-0356
If you come to Youngstown, the one thing you MUST do is go to Handels. Listed in the New York Times "10 best icecream shops in America", it has won world renown for it's unique taste, and it can't be found anywhere else. (Actually, there are 2 or 3 new franchises now, bur for some reason, it just doesn't taste the same. Stick with the original.) All the flavors are great, but the most popular is the Chocolate Pecan. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it! 8-)
House of China
Boardman Plaza
(330) 758-2307
This is no place special. That's what people will tell you. Don't believe them. It may not be well known, but in my opinion, the House of China is the best Chinese resturaunt around. The decor is nice, but the food is the real attraction here. Order the fried rice (beef, pork, chicken, or vegetarian) if you want to be safe. It's delicious. When you leave, make sure you buy some packets of chow mein noodles to go at the counter. They're awesome!
Cancun Mexican Resturaunt
4055 Belmont Avenue
(330)759-3301
This is a bit out of the way, as it's not really withing the city limits, but if you have the time, it's well worth the inconvenience. The service leaves something to be desired. The waiters speak poor English, and won't wait on you until you grab one walking by and tell them in a clear firm voice that you would like to order now. However, they make up for it tenfold with the best mexican cuisine in town. Order the quesadillas, pronounced KAY-sa-DI-as, (get 2 of them, maybe with some rice on the side) and you won't be sorry. Just don't drink the water. ;-) (note: that last comment was a joke on Mexico. The water in Liberty township is quite safe. However, if you go to the suburb of Campbell, where I live, drink bottled water. Our water tastes nasty, and we've had 4 filter breaks in the past year. When this happens, the mayor's office kindly sends us a note saying that the water we have been drinking for the past week may contain dangerous bacteria, and that we should have been boiling it.)
Inner Circle Pizza
1816 Boardman Poland Road
757-3719
A nice caual sports-bar atmosphere with good pizza and buffalo wings.
I could recomend lots of prestigous upper class restraunts like TJ's, but I won't because the food is terrible and very expensive. However, if you want to go celebrity stalking, TJ's is the place where the rich and famous eat. (If the police ask you to leave, just tell them you're with the mafia, and they'll leave you alone.)
Places of Worship
Catholic
St. Columba Cathedral
159 W Rayen
(330) 744-5233
This is the central church of the Diocese of Youngstown. There are many other beautiful Catholic churches in Youngstown but I must be concise.
Non-denominational
Pleasant Valley Church
2055 Pleasant Valley Rd
(330) 539-6582
I know nothing about this church, but I thought I should list a non-denominational church.
Jewish
Temple El Emeth
3970 Logan Way
(330) 759-1429
Muslim
Islamic Society of Greater Youngstown
535 Harman Ave
743-3742
Tips when traveling in Youngstown and the surrounding area:
1. Stay near the YSU Campus as much as possible at night time. This is the "nice" side of town. Youngstown has the 3rd highest per-capita murder rate in the United States, but it almost all takes place in the ghettoes. If you're in my hometown suburb of Campbell however, and you hear a loud noise, don't be alarmed. It's probably just the Greeks. Half of Campbell is Greek, and they celebrate every little thing, from Easter to hitting the lottery, with firecrackers.
2. If you have to go through Poland township, make sure you're well below the speed limit. If you're a mob boss putting a hit on one of the rare few politicians that won't let you bribe them, you're perfectly safe. But if you're a mile over the speed limit, you might as well be a serial killer.
3. If all my mentions of murder and organized crime have scared you, relax. Only one out-of-towner has ever been killed in Youngstown, and she was from Baltimore, so it's understandable. ;-) (No hate mail please: I have a sister in Baltimore, and it's a lovely city with (sort of) lovely people.)
Important phone numbers
Emergencies: 911
AAA: 726-9083
Visitor's Bureau: 747-8200
Taxi Service: 744-8294
Things to do and see in Youngstown:
Despite the rather gloomy atmosphere of this article, Youngstown still has a lot to offer in the way of sightseeing and recreation. Here are some of the most prominent attractions:
The Arts:
Youngstown has always been a great center of the arts. Here are it's most poplar art places. (Editor: Please try to find a better word than "Art places".)
The Butler Institute of American Art
524 Wick Avenue
Youngstown, Ohio 44502
(330) 743-1711
The Butler Institute of American Art, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is the first structure built in the United States dedicated to house priceless works by American artists. Owning more than 10,000 permanent works of art, which travel all over the world, the Butler showcases masterpieces by Audubon, Winslow Homer, Remington, Mary Cassatt and more. The museum, housed in a classically designed monument of Georgian and Carrara marble, is itself considered an architectural masterpiece and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Joseph G. Butler, Jr., built the institute as a gift for the people of Youngstown. All group tours are treated to a special guided tour highlighting the finest works in the museum. Admission is free, donations are accepted. Closed on Mondays.
The Youngstown Playhouse
600 Playhouse Lane
Youngstown, Ohio 44511
Located across from the Mill Creek Park Entrance on Glenwood Avenue, the Youngstown Playhouse was founded in the 1920’s, with the established Youngstown Players. The Playhouse is the only community theater in Ohio to receive Major Institution Support from the Ohio Arts Council. It has achieved national recognition as one of the country’s oldest, largest, most respected community theaters. The season runs from September to June and also has a mid-summer production running on the weekends in August.
The Youngstown Symphony Orchestra
Edward W. Powers Auditorium
260 Federal Plaza West
Youngstown, OH 44503
Organized in 1926, the symphony society offers a subscription series, pop series, opera, ballet and classical film showings. It also sponsors a Symphony chorus, opera chorus and youth orchestra. Even if you aren't interested in syphony orchestras, at least drive by to see the spectacular neoclassical building.
Edward W. Powers Auditorium
260 Federal Plaza West
Youngstown, OH 44503
Organized in 1926, the symphony society offers a subscription series, pop series, opera, ballet and classical film showings. It also sponsors a Symphony chorus, opera chorus and youth orchestra.
Youngstown State University
410 Wick Avenue
(330) 742-3000
Youngstown State University is an accredited, state affiliated institution with an outstanding record of academic achievement, public service and physical growth. Situated in metropolitan Youngstown, the University is the center of cultural and recreational opportunities that extend its resources beyond campus. The Academic sector of the university is made up of seven major units offering over 100 undergraduate majors at the associates and bachelor’s levels, as well as 21 masters degrees. Tour are available to the public. Please call for scheduled times and dates.
Parks
There are 2 major parks in youngstown.
Mill Creek Park
This is a very large and beautiful park, perfect for hiking. While you're there, be sure to visit Lanterman's Mill, one of the most famous landmarks in the Youngstown.
Boardman Park
This park is much more tame and mild. Perfect for picnics, but not so impressive for hiking.
Places to Shop and Eat
Youngstown is the hometown of the father of former San Fransico Fortyniners owner, Edward J. Debartlo Jr., whose name happens to be, (who would have guessed!), Edward J. Debartlo Sr.! He was one of the worlds greatest mall developers, so be sure to check out:
The Southern Park Mall
7401 Market Street
(330) 758-4511
A state of the art shopping mall complete with full food court and over 100 different stores, including big department stores like Sears and Kaufman's, smaller chain stores like Camelot Music and Suncoast Videos (the latter is the only place in America I've found Red Dwarf videos in abundance.), lots of little trendy stands with neat stuff, and a big Victoria's Secret store, in case you want to pick up a catalouge for the trip home. ;-) THE place to shop in Youngstown.
The Boardman Plaza
255 Boardman-Canfield Road
(330) 726-8188
The Boardman Plaza is another nice place to shop. There is a nice Chinese resturaunt there that I will mention in the Dining section.
The Shops at Boardman Park
422 Boardman-Poland Rd.
629-8301
Located next door to the aforementioned Boardman Park, this is another popular shopping center. (Forgive me if I don't go into detail as much, but there's really not much to say.
Twice-Loved Books
19 E. Midlothian Blvd.
(330) 783-2016
A great place to find rare and used books. I once bought a (used) rare edition of the Restraunt at the End of the Universe for $2.00 there.
Dining
Handels Homemade Icecream
3931 Handel's Court
(330) 788-0356
If you come to Youngstown, the one thing you MUST do is go to Handels. Listed in the New York Times "10 best icecream shops in America", it has won world renown for it's unique taste, and it can't be found anywhere else. (Actually, there are 2 or 3 new franchises now, bur for some reason, it just doesn't taste the same. Stick with the original.) All the flavors are great, but the most popular is the Chocolate Pecan. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it! 8-)
House of China
Boardman Plaza
(330) 758-2307
This is no place special. That's what people will tell you. Don't believe them. It may not be well known, but in my opinion, the House of China is the best Chinese resturaunt around. The decor is nice, but the food is the real attraction here. Order the fried rice (beef, pork, chicken, or vegetarian) if you want to be safe. It's delicious. When you leave, make sure you buy some packets of chow mein noodles to go at the counter. They're awesome!
Cancun Mexican Resturaunt
4055 Belmont Avenue
(330)759-3301
This is a bit out of the way, as it's not really withing the city limits, but if you have the time, it's well worth the inconvenience. The service leaves something to be desired. The waiters speak poor English, and won't wait on you until you grab one walking by and tell them in a clear firm voice that you would like to order now. However, they make up for it tenfold with the best mexican cuisine in town. Order the quesadillas, pronounced KAY-sa-DI-as, (get 2 of them, maybe with some rice on the side) and you won't be sorry. Just don't drink the water. ;-) (note: that last comment was a joke on Mexico. The water in Liberty township is quite safe. However, if you go to the suburb of Campbell, where I live, drink bottled water. Our water tastes nasty, and we've had 4 filter breaks in the past year. When this happens, the mayor's office kindly sends us a note saying that the water we have been drinking for the past week may contain dangerous bacteria, and that we should have been boiling it.)
Inner Circle Pizza
1816 Boardman Poland Road
757-3719
A nice caual sports-bar atmosphere with good pizza and buffalo wings.
I could recomend lots of prestigous upper class restraunts like TJ's, but I won't because the food is terrible and very expensive. However, if you want to go celebrity stalking, TJ's is the place where the rich and famous eat. (If the police ask you to leave, just tell them you're with the mafia, and they'll leave you alone.)
Places of Worship
Catholic
St. Columba Cathedral
159 W Rayen
(330) 744-5233
This is the central church of the Diocese of Youngstown. There are many other beautiful Catholic churches in Youngstown but I must be concise.
Non-denominational
Pleasant Valley Church
2055 Pleasant Valley Rd
(330) 539-6582
I know nothing about this church, but I thought I should list a non-denominational church.
Jewish
Temple El Emeth
3970 Logan Way
(330) 759-1429
Muslim
Islamic Society of Greater Youngstown
535 Harman Ave
743-3742
Tips when traveling in Youngstown and the surrounding area:
1. Stay near the YSU Campus as much as possible at night time. This is the "nice" side of town. Youngstown has the 3rd highest per-capita murder rate in the United States, but it almost all takes place in the ghettoes. If you're in my hometown suburb of Campbell however, and you hear a loud noise, don't be alarmed. It's probably just the Greeks. Half of Campbell is Greek, and they celebrate every little thing, from Easter to hitting the lottery, with firecrackers.
2. If you have to go through Poland township, make sure you're well below the speed limit. If you're a mob boss putting a hit on one of the rare few politicians that won't let you bribe them, you're perfectly safe. But if you're a mile over the speed limit, you might as well be a serial killer.
3. If all my mentions of murder and organized crime have scared you, relax. Only one out-of-towner has ever been killed in Youngstown, and she was from Baltimore, so it's understandable. ;-) (No hate mail please: I have a sister in Baltimore, and it's a lovely city with (sort of) lovely people.)
Important phone numbers
Emergencies: 911
AAA: 726-9083
Visitor's Bureau: 747-8200
Taxi Service: 744-8294
