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Updated: April 8, 2024 @ 7:59 am
After less than two years of operation, The Corner Stone Restaurant, located at 333 E. Washington St. in New Castle, closed at the end of February. It was owned and operated by chef Lucas Leventry, above.
Reporter
After less than two years of operation, The Corner Stone Restaurant, located at 333 E. Washington St. in New Castle, closed at the end of February. It was owned and operated by chef Lucas Leventry, above.
While city leaders have goals for downtown revitalization, those could take months or years.
Meantime, business owners are concerned over the economic viability of downtown.
For Lucas Leventry, that became a reality when The Corner Stone Restaurant closed at the end of February after opening in October 2022.
“I took a risk coming into downtown New Castle,” Leventry said.
The restaurant at 333 E. Washington St. was located in a building owned by DON Enterprises with Leventry as the tenant.
The restaurant had a grand opening attended by city and county dignitaries. The restaurant offered pulled pork and barbecue ribs, chicken wings, baby back ribs, burgers, daily specials and veteran discounts.
Assistant City Solicitor Jonathan Miller said the city gave two $20,000 Enterprise Zone Revolving loans for the business and is suing Leventry for the $38,000 that is still owed. His last payment was in June 2023.
Leventry said part of the restaurant’s closure was because of a reported delay in getting the city loans. He also blamed gas company work and other sidewalk and road construction in front of his restaurant during the summer when orders should have been the busiest.
“That was the last straw. I didn’t stand a chance,” Leventry said.
Leventry said his restaurant had good reviews from the public, but he couldn’t translate into sales.
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Speaking to other downtown business owners, he said many have other jobs outside of their businesses and other potential business owners don’t want to come to downtown.
Leventry still works at his catering company LL Regal Events, and is a corporate executive chef for Aramark.
Councilman Eddie Bogaert said it is imperative for council and administration to meet with downtown business owners to address concerns and find ways to increase foot traffic.
“We have to encourage people to come downtown and support these local businesses,” Bogaert said.
Last year, the city and the New Castle Citywide Development Corporation’s facade improvement program was funded from American Rescue Plan Act money allocated by the county commissioners.
Bogaert, who chaired the facade design committee, said business owners appreciated the grants, which required an equal match of funds.
“I applaud everyone who invested money,” Bogaert said.
The city’s application for additional facade funding through the state Department of Community and Economic Development was rejected due to a lack of sufficient funds from the state. Councilman David Ward said they’ll apply again.
Bogaert said the business owners he has spoken to like the forward-thinking direction city leaders want to go in and are willing to “stick it out” for redevelopment and revitalization.
nvercilla@ncnewsonline.com
nvercilla@ncnewsonline.com
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