YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Christmas season decorations that filled The Federal for its popular Miracle on Federal have now been replaced by hearts and other décor to celebrate the most romantic holiday of the year, Valentine’s Day.
Reservations for Love Potion No. 110 pretty much filled as soon as they were opened, said Dan Martini, one of the owners of the downtown restaurant and bar.
Love Potion No. 110, which will run through Feb. 23, has a menu featuring romance-themed dishes with names such as Marry Me Pasta, That’s My Shorty Rib and Miso Horny.
“We have a whole new menu for this,” Martini said. “What makes the popups different is that we change our menu every single one.”
Located at 110 W. Federal St., the restaurant is among several venues and retailers in the Mahoning and Shenango valleys aiming to capitalize on the celebration.
The National Retail Federation projected Valentine’s Day spending this year will hit a record $27.5 million, topping the $27.4 billion spent in 2020. Americans plan to spend a total of $6.5 billion on jewelry, $5.4 billion on an evening out, $2.9 billion on flowers, $2.5 billion on candy and $1.4 billion on greeting cards.
Ohio has more than 7,800 full-service restaurants, employing about 76,000 waitstaff, according to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. The state also has about 470 florists and 568 jewelry retailers, as well as other gift stores.
While the Christmas season tends to see more engagement ring purchases, Valentine’s Day shopping at Thom Duma Fine Jewelers in Warren tends toward more fashion pieces, owner Tom Duma said.
“We have a range of designers that have entry price points for as low as a couple hundred dollars,” Duma said. The majority of purchases are in the $300 to $1,500 range.
Duma also acknowledged that Valentine’s Day will be the busiest day because of last-minute shopping. “Much of it is [because] guys traditionally are procrastinators, and that’s no different to the jewelry business,” he said.
“The hotel is pretty much sold out for Friday and Saturday,” said Mike Case, director of marketing and communications at the Grand Resort in Howland Township. Gatsby’s, the hospitality property’s higher-end restaurant, has been sold out for the weekend for the past two weeks, and a four-course Candlelight Dinner event in the Grand Pavilion that was added sold out as well.
Valentine’s Day occurring on Friday this year likely was a factor, and the federal President’s Day holiday being on the following Monday “helps a little bit more,” Case said.
“We’re pleasantly surprised with all the business that’s coming our way,” he said.
Valentine’s Day is always busy for Winner Hospitality properties Tara – A Country Inn in Clark., Pa., and Buhl Manson in Sharon, Pa., said Laura Ackley of Winner Hospitality. Ackley is director of marketing for both properties and general manager at Buhl.
“If I could double or triple the amount of guest rooms that we have on Valentine’s Day, we would sell those out as well,” she said.
Like Case, she noted that bookings tend to be heavier when Valentine’s Day weekend coincides with the President’s Day long weekend. As of Thursday afternoon, Friday and Saturday were nearly sold out – a cancellation created a Saturday vacancy – and there were openings at both on Sunday. The spa at Buhl also was nearly sold out.
There is always the potential for openings because of last-minute cancellations, she added.
“I always tell people it never hurts to check at the last minute because something might change,” she said.
Ackley also noted that Ashley’s Gourmet Dining Room at Tara is reopening after being closed for five years, though she warned it already is sold out for the weekend. “We’re really excited about that,” she said.
This Valentine’s Day will be the second under owners Bergen Giordani and Dr. Nino Rubino for Gorant Chocolatier in Boardman.
Chocolate-covered strawberries are a “signature” Valentine’s Day item, Giordani said. The main plant at Boardman is dipping 100 pounds of strawberries daily to sell at the flagship store as well as two new locations, a pop-up store in Sabi’s Restaurant in Columbiana and at a retail storefront in New Castle, Pa.
“It’s been an incredible response from the community,” Giordani said. “We’re making deliveries to New Castle twice a day to keep up with demand.”
Gorant begins gearing up for Valentine’s Day by summer, such as ordering jelly-based products that aren’t produced locally, Giordani said. As of Tuesday, sales were up 6% from the same time last year, not including the newly opened stores.
Pictured at top: Love Potion No. 110 (aka The Federal) is decked out with hearts and other Valentine’s Day décor.