The Lyric Bistro in downtown Fairport Harbor shows a row of authentic film posters that vary from 1914 to 1967. Terry Vale, proprietor of the enterprise, sits within the foreground of these posters for a June 13 picture. Sandwiches at Lyric Bistro, which opened May 6, even have been given names which might be related to well-known motion pictures. Located at 225 High St., Lyric Bistro serves meals and alcoholic drinks, whereas offering clients with actions starting from band performances and open-microphone nights to watching traditional motion pictures and listening to vinyl data. (Bill DeBus – The News-Herald)

Terry Vale is drawing upon his experience as a enterprise proprietor and contractor, and mixing in his love for motion pictures, to assist make downtown Fairport Harbor a extra entertaining place.

Vale’s new enterprise, the Lyric Bistro, is an institution that serves meals and alcoholic drinks, whereas offering clients with actions starting from band performances and open-microphone nights to watching traditional motion pictures and listening to vinyl data.

“We’re just having so much fun,” stated Vale, referring to the environment created by Lyric Bistro because it opened on May 6 at 225 High St.

A historic picture on Lyric Bistro’s Facebook web page exhibits that the identical constructing additionally served as a grocery and ironmongery shop a few years in the past.

Along with launching and working Lyric Bistro, Vale is also planning to renovate the previous Lyric Theatre — positioned at 223 High St. — into the Lyric by the Lake Events Center.

Vale is comfy with overseeing a number of companies and initiatives. In truth, he owns seven companies, together with Harbor Construction Co., which he established 41 years in the past in Fairport Harbor.

“I’m a licensed general contractor and a commercial roofer in Florida, too,” he stated. “I’ve roofed thousands of Burger Kings and Arbys, and other fast-food restaurants, from 1983 to the late ’90s.”

Bistro background

A Fairport Harbor resident, Vale entered right into a lease-to-own settlement about two years in the past for the constructing at 225 High St., the place Lyric Bistro is located.

Lyric isn’t the primary bistro-style enterprise to occupy 225 High St. lately. Prior to March 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic emerged as a critical public well being menace, the Diamond Bistro hosted open-mic nights, musical performances and comedy acts within the constructing for about three years, Vale stated.

Diamond Bistro was owned and operated by Vale’s daughter, Elizabeth Grafious. Although Diamond didn’t have a liquor license, the institution nonetheless attracted good crowds for its occasions, Vale stated.

Diamond Bistro closed completely after the Ohio Health Department ordered all non-essential companies to stop operations in an effort to stop the unfold of COVID-19.

“We shut it down, but kept the lease,” Vale stated.

After pandemic restrictions had been lifted and COVID-19 fears diminished, Vale started actively pursuing plans to open a brand new bistro there. But this institution could be completely different from Diamond in a pair methods.

Vale not solely obtained a liquor license, but in addition determined to decorate the inside of the bistro with options that mirrored his love for traditional motion pictures.

For instance, one inside wall is lined with film posters, starting from the 1914 brief drama “The Test of Manhood” starring Dorothy Davenport and Fred Whitman to “Bonnie and Clyde” starring Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway from 1967. Posters plugging movies from the Nineteen Thirties, Nineteen Forties and Nineteen Fifties additionally seem in that lineup.

“These are all original movie posters,” he stated. “My supplier is Morris Everett, owner of the Last Moving Picture Company in Kirtland.”

During hours on the bistro when musicians, singers or comedians, aren’t scheduled, Lyric Bistro additionally exhibits traditional movies on a transportable projection display.

On the morning of June 13, clients may watch “The Treasure of the Sierra Madre.” Humphrey Bogart starred within the film, which was launched in 1948.

“I love Humphrey Bogart,” Vale stated.

Even the featured meals objects on the menu are described by titles referring to motion pictures.

Sandwiches embody “When Harry met Sally AKA I’ll Have What she’s Having,” which is pastrami, Swiss cheese and mustard on marble bread. Or, there’s the “Deliverance AKA Squeal Like a Pig” — consisting of pulled pork and cole slaw on a bun.

Hours of operation at Lyric Bistro, and scheduled musical or different leisure actions, in accordance with a June 22 put up on the enterprise’s Facebook web page, are:

• Mondays by means of Wednesdays: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

• Thursdays: 11 a.m. to midnight, with open mic night time from 8 to midnight.

• Fridays: 11 a.m. to 2:30 a.m., with karaoke and comedy from 8 to 11 p.m. or midnight.

• Saturdays: 8 a.m. to 2:30 a.m., with band performances from 8 p.m. to midnight.

• Sundays: Closed.

Lyric Bistro additionally has held some vinyl nights, throughout which clients are welcome to usher in their vinyl data to play for everybody available.

“We always want to hear the stories behind the vinyl records they brought,” Vale stated.

Theater replace

In 2018, Vale bought the constructing at 223 High St. that when housed the Lyric Theatre. E.E. Lawrence opened the theater in 1921, and it stayed in enterprise till the early Sixties, the Lyric Bistro said on its Facebook web page.

While Vale knew he wasn’t going to renovate the theater immediately, he did discover a right away use for the constructing. The constructing’s former foyer serves because the workplace for T. Vale Properties, whereas the theater itself is getting used as a warehouse.

Vale stated he’s been slowly refurbishing the theater to develop into the Lyric by the Lake Events Center.

He envisions that the middle finally may host occasions akin to weddings, banquets or theatrical performances.

Vale stated he’s been engaged on extending the entrance stage of the theater out additional and including staircases. If tables had been arrange for an occasion, he would possibly identify seating areas after motion pictures — such because the Mary Poppins Section or Dirty Harry Section.

The constructing supplies utilized in development of the outdated theater are spectacular, Vale famous.

“The iron in this building is so well built, and the floor is incredibly strong,” he stated.

Vale doesn’t have an estimated completion date but for the Lyric by the Lake Events Center. But he believes the place might be a welcome addition to downtown, particularly for Fairport Harbor residents who’ve fond reminiscences of going to the Lyric Theatre in its heyday.

“You should hear the gals (who visit Lyric Bistro) tell me things like, “I had my first kiss here,” he stated. “Some of their stories are just amazing.”