YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) — A Youngstown restaurant owner is looking to keep a family tradition alive for new generations as customers return to the downtown area.
It’s been about a month and a half since downtown Youngstown was able to reopen following the explosion at the Realty Building last May.
Although some work is still being done on the site where the Realty Building once stood, traffic is once again moving easily and business is improving. Restaurant owner Mark Canzonetta says he’s seen a noticeable revitalization over the last six weeks.
Since reopening last month, Canzonetta says he’s been passing out crisp new $2 bills to children coming into his restaurant Casa di Canzonetta. He says it’s something his older relatives would do during the holidays or special occasions for good luck.
Now, when he sees kids 12 and under coming in with their families, he’s continuing the tradition.
“Anytime somebody comes in, I just reach in my wallet and pull out one of these $2 bills and I give it to them and you should see the smile on their face immediately, it’s just unbelievable,” Canzonetta said.
He says while the kids are thrilled to get the money, their parents often say they didn’t realize $2 bills were still being printed.
Canzonetta tells the kids to be sure to save the money for another day and, when they’re older, to pay the tradition forward and give $2 bills to another generation of children.
Monday, workers were busy getting Casa di Canzonetta decorated for the Christmas holiday. Canzonetta hopes the parade and tree-lighting next month will draw even more people to see what the downtown has to offer.
“I see it going to the other areas; the other restaurants are starting to say that they’re getting busy too, so it’s just not me. I think people are seeing that Youngstown is in fact alive again and open for business and it’s fantastic,” Canzonetta said.
