Valley restaurateur commemorates grand opening of Frank’s Cafe in Boardman
Frank’s Cafe, 8414 Market St., hosted a grand opening event with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday. The eatery opened its doors in March.
The cafe is a quick-service breakfast and lunch restaurant that prioritizes local, healthy ingredients. Customers order at the counter and can expect their food within 15 minutes, either for dine-in or takeout. Food is served with disposable boxes and silverware.
Menu items at Frank’s Cafe include fresh yogurt bowls, toasts, sandwiches, salads and smoothies.
Frank’s Cafe is the newest business venture of Raphe Neapolitan, co-owner of the Landmark Restaurant locations in Youngstown and Liberty and Common Grounds Coffee Shop in Cleveland. Neapolitian’s business partner, girlfriend Danielle Davis, was previously the cafeteria director of Poland Local Schools.
“I went [to the cafe location] to kind of look at it to potentially do a Landmark because ... people keep asking and we’d like to eventually open up another Landmark back in the Boardman area. So that was kind of the main intention. And then when I went inside, it just didn’t really fit what we would want [for a Landmark],” Neapolitan said.
“[Danielle and I were] both just like, ‘Wow, well, this would make an awesome, kind of more modern cafe,’” he added.
Frank’s Cafe uses ingredients from other local eateries, including coffee from Stone Fruit Coffee Co. and bread from The Bread Chef, Neapolitan said.
Frank’s Cafe offers catering, party trays, local business delivery and online ordering, where customers have the option to order carryout or delivery up to a week in advance. Neapolitan said the cafe aims to appeal to “people on the go.”
“I think it’s hard to find a healthy, quick breakfast for people that are on their way to work. So we have healthier options where you can order online and you could order it for tomorrow morning and say, ‘Hey, at 7:30, I want to pick up my yogurt bowl with strawberries and bananas on it and my coffee,’ and we’ll have it ready for you. Walk in, pick it up and be on your way to work,” Neapolitan said.
Frank’s Cafe marks the third Mahoning Valley restaurant Neapolitan has opened since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic — at a time where many other small businesses closed their doors.
Neapolitan attributes his restaurants’ successes to hard work, his staff and loyal customers.
“Staffing is obviously the No. 1 thing,” he said. “We have a really good core staff of great managers and great people who have been [at Landmark] forever, [who] love the place and take pride in the place. So I think that is what you really need to run a successful business.
“Speaking for Landmark, we have awesome customers [who] literally thank us for buying the place — and that’s crazy, but it makes you feel really good. We should be thanking them for coming into the restaurant,” Neapolitan added. “And same with Frank’s Cafe. I mean, the [customers] are just so happy and thrilled and say, ‘Thank you for putting healthy, fresh options here.’”
In the future, Neapolitan said Frank’s Cafe is looking for more regular business customers, like the already established relationship the cafe has with Mercy Health’s St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital for deliveries and catering. Then, perhaps a second location in the future.
“For now, we just kind of want to focus on this and make sure that everyone that comes in the door gets treated right and enjoys their food,” he said.
If you go...
Frank’s Cafe
- 8414 Market St., Boardman;
- Open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.; and closed Sunday;
- Order online here. Visit its Facebook page or call 330-953-3131 for more information.
This story was originally published May 2, 2022 at 5:00 AM.