Another Restaurant Will Try to Make Tourism Center Work

by Contributor | December 29, 2011 7:31 am

Yet another restaurant will open in the Fulton Tourism Center at Bullhead Point, trying to do what others have failed to do: Generate enough business to stay open.

This time, though, it’ll be one of the landmark food businesses of Fulton: Mr. Mike’s Seafood.

City lawmakers this week approved — with some dissent — a lease agreement with Fred and Marilyn Bevacqua, Mr. Mike’s owners.

The lease calls for the Bevacquas to pay rent of $200 per month plus all utilities.  In return, the building will be open so people can use the public bathrooms, which Mr. Mike’s will maintain.  And Mr. Mike’s will pay twice the rate of garbage collection fees.

This is the fifth food business[1] to try to make a go of what was intended to be a concession stand at what was supposed to be a building for tourists to get information about the city and region.

The most recent tenant, Renee Watts[2], closed recently, said Mayor Ron Woodward. “She didn’t make it. When another pizzeria opened up, it put her out of business.”

Woodward said Mr. Mike’s will move from its location on Broadway to the Tourism Center.

All but one of the other restaurants were startup businesses. Mr. Mike’s has been in the community for decades.

“That’s a well-established business,” said Common Councilor Dan Knopp. “Hopefully, people will come and have a fish sandwich by our beautiful lake.  Hopefully, this will be a home run for us.”

But Council member Tom Kenyon said bluntly that Mr. Mike’s will “never make it” at the Tourism Center.  The Center was built with a state grant that was intended to complement the then-new pavilion and pier at Bullhead Point.

“I think we ought to bulldoze it,” said Kenyon.  “That’d be the end of that.”

Moments later, he cast the only vote against the contract.

Mr. Mike’s can open in January.

Source URL: https://oswegocountytoday.com/news/fulton/another-restaurant-will-try-to-make-tourism-center-work/

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