Also know as the former Dunlop HQ on Long Road at the 190, at the North end of the island.
This eyesore has sat, vaccant and rotting, for a decade or more and it seems that local government is powerless to force the owners to mow the grass or board up the windows, let alone clean the graffitti. This is the first thing many visitors see when they enter Grand Island. No wionder there is so much vacant commercial real estate in a very wealthy town.
I think your Supervisor is a Grand Island Fireman - see if they can use the building as a fire training excerise and burn it down! This company was the savior for Grand Island when they arrived to lower your taxes with it's great promises. Oh well that's pretty much how most of W.N.Y. has gone, but I agree the real estate market - other than the Casino, is a bust in your neck of the woods.
Once upon a time a developer came to check out the dunlop building for the possibility of building a hotel. He was referred to the town engineer(John Phillips), they took a tour of the building and grounds, the asbestos wasn't a problem as they would eliminate it and build onto the bldg.
The problem it seemed was the huge septic system that would have been required to install. The developer asked about sewers, he was told there was no access to sewers so a septic was the only option. The idea of spending millions on a septic system deterred the developer and he walked away.
Truth be told, when they did some major repair work on that section of the 190 a sleeve was installed for sewer to be run under the 190. John Phillips told him a bold faced lie.
The major problem we have here is an anti business town board. They work against business growth on the island and the biggest detrement is Learman the bldg inspector, the engineering dept and the town board. McMahon told me that he would listen more to the businesses if he could be promised 100 votes as he gets from quality quest.
I wouldn't say it's anti-business, it's called " Unless you can line my pocket, I won't let you line yours" People like Mrs. Lang, L Grant and a few others years ago took over Grand Island. They were out for their own good, plucking up prime development land cheap - and then getting the development aid to promise big business. You do have a Business Park, you do have the new Imigration / B. Patrol building, you have the Fucillio Dealership (god I hate that commercial), you even have that huge, money rich drug co. - can't think of it's name. I think what Grand Island needs is to eliminate the bridges and keep everyone on the island to support the small businesses that come and go like flies. The trouble is, the town as you mentioned, won't let development go on the west side of the 190? There are various areas where the state put in pipes just as you metioned for sewer to be expanded to the west. I guess the right people with the power don't own property there. Amherst was fairly flat on dvelopement until people on the board owned some of the areas that got developed - look at it now. Good luck, I still just want to go to the Bedell Houseand have a beer, spill some so it runs down the floor into the river. Or the Idlehour - is that still there?
You may be getting some help - the ECIDA has given a bunch of money to either renovate or tear down the building. Good luck! In Sardinia (the area of projected sprawl? as Joel G. called it) couldn't muster up anything for a commercial / industrial park. Well we do have the Republican's that control the board and have about as much vision as someone waiting for eye surgery at 97 yrs. of age. They do have a great sense of smell as the landfill there get's their support without so much as waiver. You don't think.....
Yes I saw that it was coming.. I am trying to find more info about it and the deal made..
Seems too many are having their pockets lined in the town. When the zoning officer threatens people to either list with his real estate business or he will drag them into court for any and all violations, we have lost control of the town once again..
I just may have to get very vocal again.. The Republicans hate me here, I just call them as I see them, corrupt.
Man it seems like the same story all over WNY, or is it all over NY, or is all over the USA? The only salvation in Sardinia is a Supervisor who is actually self supporting and no real party ties. She answers to no one and it absolutely drives the Republican's crazy. I think the problem with Grand Island or any farming community is the land is held so sacred by the land owners that it's theirs and no one elses, which is true in some sense. Maybe this is why eminent domain is becoming an issue. Money sometimes isn't even the issue - it's DON"T TAKE MY LAND - even if you pay me. I bet people who own 25 or 50 acres would rather talk about how much land they have vs what it could be really used for. Good luck with those politicans and keep up the fight - nothing is gained by sitting back. Is that Idle Hour still open or Ceil & Chucks? Man those where the good old days!!
Funny thing is that farming is not allowed according to the zoning codes..
Can you imagine, farming is what built this community.
The Idle Hour, is that the one on E River that is on the water? If so, yes it's still there. (Ceil & Chucks?) Don't know what that is..
Most of the bars are still open, some of the restaurants have closed.
You were right that people do not support the businesses on the island, they leave for most everything.
The once approved South Pointe land was just sold for a million bucks, the people that bought it are going to build some type of University.
Idle Hour? I don't believe I've heard of it. Can you be more specific on it's location along East River?Originally Posted by RusThompson
Ceil and Chucks? Again, don't know this one either. Could it be the old Del and Herbs?
Turner's and BA's (the old Z's) are still open. I don't know how the smoking ban effected either one. And TC's is still going strong.Most of the bars are still open, some of the restaurants have closed.
You were right that people do not support the businesses on the island, they leave for most everything.
The Village Inn and The Beach House still do good business. I think Sandy's is still open too as is The Peppermill.
We've gotten a few new establishments that look promising. Asian Buffet and The Town Cafe seem to be doing well. Jalapeno Loco's is also doing well. If you haven't tried it, I recommend it. The Java Shop just opened, but I haven't checked it out yet.
Any word on the old restaurant/bar on West River? Went there once, way back when I first moved here 13 years ago. I think it's been closed almost as long.
Good old Del and Herbs, they tried and died.
The old place on W River opened for a little while, I had a fundraiser there in 2001. They have problems with traffic. Ilana Long wants $300,000 for it.
The Java Shoppe is doing very well, the older kids like it and my son Jacob has some of his art work hanging there.
Turner's and BA's (the old Z's) are still open. I don't know how the smoking ban effected either one. And TC's is still going strong.
Turners and BA's allow the people to smoke, TC's doesn't but Chris like the ban.
The funny thing about the ban is that they say you can't smoke but cannot force you to enforce it.
If the smoking police come in they will fine you but all they can make you do is put up signs that say no smoking..
The Asian Buffet is owned by the same people that run the one one the plaza beside the old Ames store, and the Town Cafe is relly doing well, they have really done a good job being owned by an islander, their food is really good and the atmosphere is really home town.
My daughter Lilly is good friends with their daughter Alyssa.
Del&Herb's will be back. Some other "Cathy and Jim" will take over eventually.
Seems like a waste having that property on West River vacant so long.
2001 .. isn't that about the time when someone drove the Military tank there?
Oh .. I didn't know you could still smoke in Turner's and BA's. And here I am going to CanadaTurner's and BA's (the old Z's) are still open. I don't know how the smoking ban effected either one. And TC's is still going strong.
Turners and BA's allow the people to smoke, TC's doesn't but Chris like the ban.
The funny thing about the ban is that they say you can't smoke but cannot force you to enforce it.
If the smoking police come in they will fine you but all they can make you do is put up signs that say no smoking..lol.
I haven't been to BA's since shortly after Billy A. lost his son in 2002. It was pretty rough on him, as you could imagine.
I used to enjoy Turner's on summer evenings as it has an outside patio overlooking the river, but I haven't been there in years either.
I suppose these businesses have thrived because they are all owned by Island residents, although that does not account for the loss of Del&Herb's or Greentree's (?) (I think that was the name) over on the Boulevard.The Asian Buffet is owned by the same people that run the one one the plaza beside the old Ames store, and the Town Cafe is relly doing well, they have really done a good job being owned by an islander, their food is really good and the atmosphere is really home town.
The old Ames store was gone before I moved here, and the plaza has struggled keeping tenants. I heard not too long ago, the owner asks way too much for rent. It was said he purposely keeps the rents high to keep many shops vacant, but I can't remember right now the reason behind that.
Isn't he the same owner of the vacant property on Baseline between Webb Road and the plaza across from St. Steven's Church? That was rezoned a year or two ago for patio/apartment housing but he hasn't sold the property yet.
The old Dell and Herbs physical plant is just too far gone, at least in my wifes opinion. She looked at it, but decided against it. Maybe someone with more ambition???
The place on West River (latest was Loverdis I think) just has too many bugs in the summer, plus it's pretty out of the way. On a night with no moon the West end of the island seems pretty deserted. Which is exactly like the folks there like it!!
The biggest problem with new resturaunts on GI (and anywhere else for that matter) is UNDERCAPITALIZATION. You have to have money, more than you think you will possibly need to open, and you can't open until you are 110% ready. Then be prepared to look at an empty house for weeks. And don't ruin it with a bar business or that keno nonsense (does anything say "NO CLASS" louder that a keno board!!!????).
It was still Del & Herb's when I last ate there. When it reopened as Cathy & Jim's Dell & Herb's it seemed to be squeezing by until they got robbed by those teens. Seems they shut down shortly thereafter. Bad publicity?
Jalapeno Loco's recently got their liquor license. I was told patrons want their margaritas with their mexican dinner. Their plan is to construct the bar and have it open this summer.The biggest problem with new resturaunts on GI (and anywhere else for that matter) is UNDERCAPITALIZATION. You have to have money, more than you think you will possibly need to open, and you can't open until you are 110% ready. Then be prepared to look at an empty house for weeks. And don't ruin it with a bar business or that keno nonsense (does anything say "NO CLASS" louder that a keno board!!!????).
I think that was then, that guy lives down the street on W River and turned into a looney tune. Long story behind him and how he really screwed some contractors on the island.
When I was running for the legislature I visited every Tavern and Restaurant in the district, the ones that were still open anyway. People were smoking in most of them, the ones that weren't had no body in them. Their are loopholes in the ban that some of them know about.Oh .. I didn't know you could still smoke in Turner's and BA's. And here I am going to Canada
Out of the 100 or so places I visited, only one was for the ban.
It may have been Greenfields, anyway I think that died because of the location. Now it's some kind of office, Sam Long bought it before he died of cancer and remodeled it.I suppose these businesses have thrived because they are all owned by Island residents, although that does not account for the loss of Del&Herb's or Greentree's (?) (I think that was the name) over on the Boulevard.
The owner of the vacant land is Randon and Sue Hillock, the zoning the town forced upon them does not make it feasible to build and develop so the price would be affordable for prospective buyers. The town is good at that like with the southpointe project, that was supposed to be seinor housing (Patio homes) with doctors offices, and small businesses. If we had southpointe a Wegmans was going to build here.The old Ames store was gone before I moved here, and the plaza has struggled keeping tenants. I heard not too long ago, the owner asks way too much for rent. It was said he purposely keeps the rents high to keep many shops vacant, but I can't remember right now the reason behind that.
Isn't he the same owner of the vacant property on Baseline between Webb Road and the plaza across from St. Steven's Church? That was rezoned a year or two ago for patio/apartment housing but he hasn't sold the property yet.
Quality quest and the town forced them to give so much up for green space, town sewers, wetlands etc, seinors would not be able to afford them. Before they put a blade in the ground a couple million would have to be spent improving the roads and sewers around the project. Jack Hill the developer gave up and walked away. Another good project that would have benefitted the people thrown away by the town.
Hymen owns the plaza, he uses it as a tax writeoff. He could care less if anyone rented it, it is a benefit for him the way it is. The old Ames store needs over a 1/2 million in heating and air conditioning work before it can be occupied. It is up to the renter to do it..
It has been up for sale for a long time, I can find out how much but I am sure it is way above market value. The other end of the blvd is doing much better which is good and bad. The town center plan we designed would have had a nice quaint town center built around Tops and by Supergas.
There is another subdivision across the street from supergas. Very nice plan but the town is dragging their feet on that one too. Everything depends on zoning, and they love to control the zoning and your life.
You have sparked up many memories of the frustrations with the town I have battled for over 10 years.
Exactly right on the keno!
Del and herbs is old and falling apart, it's a shame it's a nice looking bldg.
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