New restaurant, cafe coming to Sandusky

SANDUSKY — A proprietor unveiled his plans to not only introduce his brand into Sandusky but also revive a downtown building once home to a popular restaurant and charming cafe. Brent Zimmerman — the co-founder and CEO of Saucy Brew Works, a Cleveland-headquartered production brewery and brewpub — indicated he'll expand his business into a site previously housing both Zinc Brasserie and Boom Town Coffee on East Water Street. The late Cesare Avallone, a renowned chef and successful entrepreneur, owned both businesses, which immediately shuttered and have remained closed since his death in November. Zimmerman broke the news exclusively with the Register. "Zinc has always been a favorite spot of mine and my family to have dinner at during summers on the lake," said Zimmerman, who's taking on his second major project in Sandusky. He bought, revamped and recently unveiled The Washington hotel on East Washington Street. Zimmerman noted he'll rebrand Zinc and Boom Town under the Saucy Brew Works name. "We will continue in the tradition of having an elevated menu in addition to our pizza and beer," said Zimmerman, noting he's still working out the full menu. "The executive chef, Andrew Gorski, we are partnering with has a decorated industry experience in multiple states — including Ohio, Nevada, New York, Hawaii — and is a seasoned veteran." Regarding the former Boom Town Coffee cafe area, "Saucy Coffee will replace (it)," Zimmerman said. "We will be open seven days a week." Zimmerman then shared a tentative timeline for Saucy's first Sandusky location. "We hope to reopen with our first phase in late spring/early summer," he said. "We will begin a second phase with (the) addition of an outdoor beer garden on (the) lakeside of the property next offseason." Beyond Gorski, Zimmerman then talked about employment. "We are in contact with the staff of Zinc and Boom Town," Zimmerman said. "We plan on offering anyone who worked at either restaurant their jobs back if they desire. We are working on specific numbers, in terms of hiring with Andrew, and will have a better feel in April." Several other details about the project, such as a cost estimate, remain unknown at this time. In memory Avallone, 45, of Huron, died on Nov. 10 in a single-vehicle car crash in downtown Sandusky. He left behind two children. The only passenger in his vehicle — Sandusky resident Ariel D. Palmer, 29 at the time — suffered permanent injuries and remains hospitalized. She has four children. "We take two steps forward with her recovery then two steps back. It's been so difficult ... so difficult," her mother, Rhonda, told the Register in February. "She's fighting every day just to breathe. She's fighting for every breath." A good fit Many credit Avallone as one of the early, and vital, pioneers helping lead Sandusky into a rebirth this past decade. Other than Zinc and Boom Town, he did have business interests, at one time or another, in Crush Wine Bar and Dockside Cafe along with a relatively new transportation company, Scooter Ding Ding, all based in Sandusky. Count Zimmerman as one of those people. "Cesare and his family took a big chance when not many others did," Zimmerman said. "I know, personally, my family and I enjoyed countless meals at Zinc." After learning of Avallone's untimely death in November, Zimmerman reached out to his friend, Bob Hare, a managing member with Sandusky Renaissance Properties. Since 2012, Renaissance has owned the building — previously Zinc and Boom Town and now Saucy — in question. Following Avallone's death, "Bob and I reflected back seven-plus years ago about the beginnings of Saucy and how it almost came to be that Saucy considered opening originally across the street, (on East Water Street) in Bob's warehouse building," Zimmerman said. "Of course, that didn't happen. Bob and I, however, always stayed in touch, and he is a friend and supporter of Saucy." Those initial talks, which largely involved reminiscing, eventually led to business pitches and then, more recently, an agreement between parties represented by Zimmerman and Hare. Hare handpicked Zimmerman, someone who he believes can live up to Avallone's reputation, both professionally and personally, to resurrect two places at the forefront of Sandusky's ultra-prevalent culinary scene. "As time passed, we needed to decide how to program the space where Zinc and Boom Town had been," Hare said. "The thought of Saucy utilizing the space made sense. Given how the building was set up, Saucy was a natural fit. The icing on the cake was Brent agreeing to maintain an elevated dining experience that the area has come to enjoy." Honoring a legacy Both Zimmerman and Hare want to somehow preserve Avallone's aura and spirit in the new space. "We need to do something to honor Cesare," said Hare, underscoring the investments and faith Avallone and his ex-wife, Andrea Crawford, made into Sandusky. It convinced Hare and his wife, Cindy, to similarly invest in properties and businesses. "Zinc Brasserie came on the scene at the very beginning of Sandusky's renaissance, and, arguably, was one of the venues that started the renaissance of downtown," Hare said. "And remember: Cesare and Andrea did all of this when the downtown didn't have much to promote. I'll always respect them for taking that leap of faith." Hare ended by stating: "Stay tuned as we work to determine an appropriate way to celebrate Cesare's life and contribution to making Sandusky a great place to live and play."