Austintown restaurant calls on community to avoid future closure

 The Manor Restaurant & Bar in Austintown is calling on the community for help, posting on social media that they're facing 'tough times' and an uncertain future.

The restaurant first opened its doors in 1961, and has become a recognizable landmark at the busy intersection of Kirk Rd and S Canfield-Niles Rd in the decades since.

But that familiarity, coupled with competition from a growing number of restaurants in the surrounding area, may be to blame for less foot traffic, the manager tells 21 News.

"It's just a struggle from day to day," Craig McCartney said. "Since COVID, the industry has really changed."

After surviving the pandemic, staffing shortages, and renovations, the Manor says they're also facing a new challenge: rising costs.

"Food costs go up, electric bills have increased, all the utilities have increased, and it just makes it tough in this business," McCartney added.

While the Manor's managers clarified the restaurant is not in immediate jeopardy of closing, they hope transparency on their current situation will help their restaurant avoid the fate other local businesses have experienced in recent times.

McCartney added, the Manor plans to increase their presence on social media to better promote their menu specials, events, and community involvement, to encourage more members of the community to pull up a chair.