Lyric Bistro enhances entertainment offerings in downtown Fairport Harbor

Jun. 24—Terry Vale is drawing upon his expertise as a business owner and contractor, and mixing in his love for movies, to help make downtown Fairport Harbor a more entertaining place.

Vale's new business, the Lyric Bistro, is an establishment that serves food and alcoholic beverages, while providing customers with activities ranging from band performances and open-microphone nights to watching classic movies and listening to vinyl records.

"We're just having so much fun," said Vale, referring to the atmosphere created by Lyric Bistro since it opened on May 6 at 225 High St.

A historic photo on Lyric Bistro's Facebook page shows that the same building also served as a grocery and hardware store many years ago.

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

Vale is comfortable with overseeing multiple businesses and projects. In fact, he owns seven businesses, including Harbor Construction Co., which he established 41 years ago in Fairport Harbor.

"I'm a licensed general contractor and a commercial roofer in Florida, too," he said. "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 into a lease-to-own agreement about two years ago for the building at 225 High St., where Lyric Bistro is situated.

Lyric isn't the first bistro-style business to occupy 225 High St. in recent years. Prior to March 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic emerged as a serious public health threat, the Diamond Bistro hosted open-mic nights, musical performances and comedy acts in the building for about three years, Vale said.

Diamond Bistro was owned and operated by Vale's daughter, Elizabeth Grafious. Although Diamond didn't have a liquor license, the establishment still attracted good crowds for its events, Vale said.

Diamond Bistro closed permanently after the Ohio Health Department ordered all non-essential businesses to cease operations in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

"We shut it down, but kept the lease," Vale said.

After pandemic restrictions were lifted and COVID-19 fears diminished, Vale began actively pursuing plans to open a new bistro there. But this establishment would be different from Diamond in a couple ways.

Vale not only obtained a liquor license, but also decided to embellish the interior of the bistro with features that reflected his love for classic movies.

For example, one inside wall is lined with movie posters, ranging from the 1914 short 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 films from the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s also appear in that lineup.

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

During hours at the bistro when musicians, singers or comedians, aren't scheduled, Lyric Bistro also shows classic films on a portable projection screen.

On the morning of June 13, customers could watch "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre." Humphrey Bogart starred in the movie, which was released in 1948.

"I love Humphrey Bogart," Vale said.

Even the featured food items on the menu are described by titles relating to movies.

Sandwiches include "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 other entertainment activities, according to a June 22 post on the business's Facebook page, are:

—Mondays through Wednesdays: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

—Thursdays: 11 a.m. to midnight, with open mic night 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 also has held some vinyl nights, during which customers are welcome to bring in their vinyl records to play for everyone on hand.

"We always want to hear the stories behind the vinyl records they brought," Vale said.

Theater update

In 2018, Vale purchased the building at 223 High St. that once housed the Lyric Theatre. E.E. Lawrence opened the theater in 1921, and it stayed in business until the early 1960s, the Lyric Bistro stated on its Facebook page.

While Vale knew he wasn't going to renovate the theater right away, he did find an immediate use for the building. The building's former lobby serves as the office for T. Vale Properties, while the theater itself is being used as a warehouse.

Vale said he's been slowly refurbishing the theater to become the Lyric by the Lake Events Center.

He envisions that the center eventually could host events such as weddings, banquets or theatrical performances.

Vale said he's been working on extending the front stage of the theater out further and adding staircases. If tables were set up for an event, he might name seating areas after movies — such as the Mary Poppins Section or Dirty Harry Section.

The building materials used in construction of the old theater are impressive, Vale noted.

"The iron in this building is so well built, and the floor is incredibly strong," he said.

Vale doesn't have an estimated completion date yet for the Lyric by the Lake Events Center. But he believes the place will be a welcome addition to downtown, especially for Fairport Harbor residents who have fond memories 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 said. "Some of their stories are just amazing."