The Update | Pittsburgh Maulers’ Local Connection; Website to Feature Café 422

CANTON, Ohio – Two players with Mahoning Valley ties could become offensive line mates for the Pittsburgh Maulers of the USFL this season.

Myron Cunningham, who played at Harding High School in Warren and the University of Arkansas, is competing for the starting left tackle position. Cunningham graduated from Harding in 2016 and was on the Cleveland Browns practice squad for a portion of the 2022 season.

Charles Baldwin, a Connecticut native who started nine games for Youngstown State University in 2018 after transferring from the University of Kansas, is the likely starter at right tackle. Baldwin was with the Maulers in 2022.

The Maulers will play their home games in Canton’s Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, beginning with their home opener April 23 at 1 p.m. against the New Jersey Generals.

The season kicks off this weekend, with the Maulers playing the New Orleans Breakers in Birmingham, Alabama, on Sunday, April 16.

The Maulers are coached by three-time Super Bowl champion and former Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator Ray Horton.

Tickets start at $10 per game and can be purchased online HERE.

Film Crew will Visit Café 422 in Warren

WARREN, Ohio – A landmark Mahoning Valley restaurant will be visited by a film crew from America’s Best Restaurants on April 24.

Café 422 in Warren will host the crew from the national media and marketing company that focuses on local, independently owned restaurants. In its segments, it will highlight popular Café 422 dishes and interview owner Serdar Dede about the restaurant’s special place in the community. The episode will be aired extensively on social media channels at a later date.

Dede, who owns the restaurant with his brother, Erdal, is originally from Turkey. He has worked in the hospitality industry since age 13, including a stint with Royal Caribbean Cruise Line. After landing in Ohio and working in local restaurants, hotels and a golf course, he purchased Cafe 422 in 2006. The restaurant has been in operation since 1939.

In 2022, the Dedes opened a second location in Boardman.

“Being a local business owner, it’s nice to see all the locals come to your restaurant, [and it’s important] to welcome them properly,” said Dede, who is in his restaurants daily.

The must-try item on the menu is hot peppers and oil, served as an appetizer with fresh homemade bread. Serder notes that chicken parmesan and the hand-cut, bone-in ribeye are also very popular items and may be featured on the episode.

America’s Best Restaurants will film from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Warren location.

The episode’s premiere date will be announced on the restaurant’s Facebook page. Viewers can watch it HERE.

America’s Best Restaurants finds places to feature from viewer nominations, or by request from restaurant owners.

Pictured at top: Warren Harding High School graduate Myron Cunningham is vying for a position with the Pittsburgh Maulers.

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.