Bistro 1907 by Realty Tower asks for donations after being forced to close after explosion

A restaurant near Realty Tower has started a GoFundMe page after being forced to close following last month’s explosion in downtown Youngstown.

Bistro 1907 by Mark Canzonetta was one of the many businesses affected by the explosion on May 28. Due to the restaurant’s proximity to the Realty Tower, it closed out of concerns for safety.

One of the restaurant’s staff members opened the GoFundMe page with a $10,000 goal. Within two days it has reached nearly $5,000 in donations as of Friday.

The restaurant has been a downtown favorite for the Youngstown community, serving American and French cuisine. The bistro gets its name from being housed in a historic building built in 1907 in downtown Youngstown.

The restaurant has taken to Facebook to express their gratitude for the Youngstown community. Several community members commented their support and prayers in the comments.

The Realty Tower and surrounding businesses remain closed in a hazard zone with an imminent danger of collapse warning given by structural engineers. The City of Youngstown has given the building owners until Monday to decide how to move forward.

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This story was originally published June 15, 2024 at 6:00 AM.