Jay's Lunch
Why it's listed
Located at 258 Federal Plaza West in downtown Youngstown, this three-story commercial building was constructed about 1915 and houses a diner known as Jay's Lunch. It is small, but its terra cotta facade is among the most ornate in the city. The upper floors have a tripartite bay with fluted pilasters topped by Composite capitals, a frieze with classical swags and medallions, a modillioned cornice below a tiled shed roof, and a parapet with diamond and shield-shaped medallions. The storefront keeps its original stone cornice, though newer materials cover other features. Over the years the building held retail and office tenants, including a barbershop, a tailor, and doctors' offices. It was listed for its architecture and for its role in the growth of West Federal Street as Youngstown's main shopping district, during a period when the city's population rose from about 45,000 to 170,000 between 1900 and 1930.
Significance in brief: The building is significant for its architecture, with one of the most ornate and best-preserved terra cotta facades remaining in downtown Youngstown. It also represents the smaller-scale commercial construction that helped make West Federal Street the city's premier shopping district in the early 20th century.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 86001925, listed July 23, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 258 Federal Plaza W, Youngstown |
|---|---|
| County | Mahoning County |
| Listed | July 23, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86001925 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Exterior and interior condition listed as good; present use is commercial. The storefront has been altered, and the facade is described as well preserved. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.10164, -80.65279 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 86001925.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.