Stained 1054 Bistro

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   Looks like the Middletown USA nay sayers are going to keep their negative traps shut on this one.

Come on Vet, Vivian and company surely you can come up with something negative to say about a new restaurant coming to downtown.

Let's hear it!!!

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Eatery seen as key to city’s revival 

New downtown bistro project being aided by 15 area investors. 

By Michael D. Pitman 

12:07 AM Sunday, May 6, 2012 

MIDDLETOWN — As downtown is seemingly on its way to a new arts and education identity, two investors in a restaurant opening later this year say eateries are key ingredients in the recipe for a successful downtown. 

Jay and Linda Moorman, co-owners of BeauVerre Riordan Stained Glass Studios, are leading a group of 15 investors that will finance Stained 1054 Bistro inside their building at 1054 Central Ave. 

“(Revitalization) is a recipe and these guys are kind of the main ingredients, and it’s all coming together,” said Linda Moorman referring to Red Onion and Stained executive chef Gary Henz and Stained head chef Jordan Frei. “The restaurants are what’s going to make everything sustain here, and bring more people here that normally wouldn’t come.” 

Ohio Restaurant Association spokesman Jarrod Clabaugh agreed. 

“We sort of pride ourselves that restaurants are the cornerstone of communities,” he said. “You take dates there, you have business meetings there. They’re places you go to make long-term memories.” 

Clabaugh said association members across Ohio say people are eating out more, and “any downtown area that’s booming or growing, not only are there many restaurants, but a diverse offering.” 

Jay Moorman said he and his wife bought the building behind BeauVerre with no certainty of what could be there. The future site of the restaurant is currently the stained glass gallery’s work area. That will be moved to other parts of the building, the Moormans said. 

The idea for the restaurant came after talking with the private investors, Jay Moorman said, and it was determined one was needed. Mark Bursley, the owner of the Red Onion in Monroe, was the first person the investors wanted to contact. 

“Converging trends quickly moved Stained in Middletown from the concept stage to reality,” Bursley said. More people are downtown because of the Pendleton Art Center and Middletown Arts Center, and more will come with the opening of Cincinnati State Middletown and growth of MidPointe Public Library, he said. 

Mariel Bursley, daughter of Mark Bursley, said the goal was to expand to an additional location. The Red Onion seats about 50, and she said it’s always full. 

“We turn away a lot of business, so (my dad) has been looking for a new opportunity for a while now,” said Mariel Bursley. “It was pretty much perfect.” 

Stained 1054 Bistro, which is projected to open in August or September, will seat about 100. Its theme will play off BeauVerre’s design and feature a lot of re-purposed wood — much of BeauVerre’s woodwork is from old school buildings — and stained glass. 

She said the restaurant’s design, which is still being planned, will be “an experience.” 

“We want it to feel intimate,” Mariel Bursley said. 

The casual fine dining restaurant will cater to those seeking to celebrate a special occasion or going on a date to those looking for a burger for lunch. 

The opening of the restaurant will closely coincide with the late August opening of the Cincinnati State Middletown campus. About 200 students are expected to be enrolled when classes start on  Aug. 29, and the campus is expected to grow to 3,000 students in five years, said Cincinnati State President Dr. O’dell Owens. 

Restaurants and other ancillary businesses will be natural developments when the student population expands, Owens said. 

“When you start bringing in students, they’re going to need some food,” Owens said. “I hope there are some businesses that will develop.” 