Shea's Downtown

10/07/2026

Shea’s Downtown would like to thank the Ashtabula Foundation for supporting the project with a $20,000 grant. Thanks to this award, we will be able to take huge strides to activate and bring the alley back to life as an extension of the cafe, securing the area, and allowing for seating outside.

A huge thank you to JT Kanicki, Cheryle Chiaramonte, Rick Colbitz and the entire board for seeing the vision of the Shea’s project to help grow and benefit Ashtabula County as a whole. Creating job opportunities and encouraging the growth of Downtown Ashtabula, while also creating a space for the entire community to utilize and enjoy has been our mission from the outset and we’re proud to have this incredible organization show their support.

10/01/2026

Shea’s Downtown is proud to thank the Ashtabula County Board of Developmental Disabilities for coming on to the project and providing our very first local grant of $20,000. Through this partnership, we were able to install a wheelchair lift in the main lobby, accessible automatic door openers at the front entrance of the facility, and create wheelchair accessible restrooms, which includes a full-sized changing table to accommodate adult needs.

Accessibility has been at the forefront of the Shea’s project from the beginning. Recognizing the importance of welcoming all members of the community into this space, we have been intentional on how we build this space to suit the needs of everyone. We are grateful to Manda Jackson, Director of Quality & Community Outreach, for visiting Shea’s, providing invaluable advice on accessibility, being a strategic partner alongside us, and championing this project.

09/29/2026

Thank you to NEO Fund and Park Place Non-Profit for their invaluable help during Phase I of the Shea’s Downtown project. With the donation of a $250,000 grant from Park Place Non-Profit to build out both the Cafe and Community Incubator Kitchens, as well as the strategic partnership on community programming from NEO Fund, the Shea’s Downtown Revitalization Team is proud and grateful to have the backing of these incredible local organizations that help local entrepreneurs. Special thanks to NEO Fund Executive Director Kelly Sposito, for working with us to conceptualize every step of the way and bring this strategic partnership to fruition.

Along with these organizations, we couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome our Head Chef, John Krause of Mary’s Kitchen and our Head Baker, Stacy Stevenson of Bakery On Main to the team. Thank you both for taking charge to help bring both kitchens to life. We are so excited for this next chapter of the Shea’s project to unfold!

09/23/2026

Thank you so much to the entire team for making this project possible, and for the community's overwhelming support! We can't wait to welcome you back to Shea's!

ASHTABULA - The Main Avenue Performing Arts and Community Center, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit behind Shea's Downtown, on Tuesday, Sept. 22,

09/22/2026

Thank you to the City of Ashtabula, Ohio - Municipal Government for awarding Shea’s Downtown the Appalachian Community Grant Program. This grant is an instrumental piece in helping us give the alley back to the community. Thank you to Fularz Masonry for working with us on this. We love watching all of the progress happening on main and we’re so excited to be apart of it!

We are also proud to share we are finally ready to announce the Shea’s Downtown concept this week! As you know our newsletter subscribers always get the scoop first so please head to our website and sign up if you haven’t already - sheasdowntown.com✨

Thank you to everyone who has and continues to support us. We truly couldn’t be more grateful for the amazing community we’ve built along the way of bringing this incredible Downtown Ashtabula gem back to life🩵🍿

08/20/2026

A deeply heartfelt thank you to the Ashtabula Foundation for their incredible generosity for the Shea's Downtown Revitalization effort. We are humbled and grateful for the belief in our project and the support we have received from the local community. The Ashtabula Foundation is a vital resource in this county and we could not be more appreciative of the organization and the board members helping to better Ashtabula. The Shea's Downtown Revitalization Team has been tirelessly working behind the scenes to secure grant funding to help continue our efforts on the building and theater. More details and information on the progress is coming soon!

06/26/2026

Big things happening on Main Avenue! Construction is underway on the new sidewalks, and we couldn't be more excited to see this progress unfold right outside our door. Thank you City of Ashtabula, Ohio - Municipal Government!🩵

05/22/2026

A HUGE thank you to LEADERship Ashtabula County, Inc. for visiting Shea’s Downtown this week!

There’s an important connection between strong leaders with a vision and a strong community. Providing a space for our locals to grow as leaders was an honor for us and we hope to continue that trend as we get closer to opening our doors to everyone!

05/20/2026

Shea’s Downtown is getting ready to announce something big - we know you’ve all been waiting as we work behind the scenes to bring the community something special.

Our newsletter subscribers get to find out first - sign up for our newsletter at sheasdowntown.com. This is one you don’t want to miss!

04/16/2026

WOW! A huge thank you to the Ashtabula County Board of Developmental Disabilities for their incredible support of the Shea’s Downtown project!

Our goal from the start has been to create an inclusive and accessible space for everyone in the community. With this grant funding, we were able to install this wheelchair lift, as well as a universal changing table, to better serve the diverse needs of the community.

Thank you to Manda Jackson, Director of Quality and Community Outreach, for presenting this grant funding to Shea’s Downtown, accepted by Executive Director Abby Pete. We are grateful to our strategic partners for their support in this project. We can’t wait to welcome the entire community inside soon!