Plans for a cigar lounge/event center being discussed in Youngstown

Plans to build on the open space between the Youngstown Flea and Penguin City Brewery include turning it into two buildings, one for an upscale cigar lounge and the other an event center.

Approval has not yet been granted but First Ward Councilman Julius Oliver believes it would be a great addition to the city.

"This is a benefit to the city of Youngstown," Oliver said. "If you need your space beautified if you need to know what you need to do with an event, these people are experts on it," he said.

Oliver emphasizes the need for development in the city and stresses the importance of working together, acknowledging that surrounding businesses should be a part of the discussion.

"Everybody celebrated the Apollo but for some reason this entrepreneur is being attacked on Facebook," Oliver said. "So what I would like to do is get together with these business owners, try to bridge the gap and continue the mission in the first place which is entrepreneurs helping entrepreneurs on the east end," he said.

Oliver tells 21 News if the discord continues, it'll send out a negative message about the city of Youngstown.

"If we keep competing and we keep fighting and we keep doing things, that stuff is crazy, you know what I mean," Oliver said. "Let's get the best variety in downtown Youngstown so we can give the people coming to downtown Youngstown the best experience possible so they can keep coming. They not gone come if they see the businesses fighting each other, you just keep telling the public stay out," he said.

21 News reached out to the entrepreneurs behind the idea but have not heard back.