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');}//--> A little over a month ago, Elmira Savings Bank managed to secure a tenant for the Riverwalk Cafe, its recently vacated downtown lunch spot at 315 E.
Water St. Mike and Mark Nickerson, who have operated Legends in Elmira Heights for almost six years, stepped in to take over the operation. The Nickersons' new business, called Legends Cafe, gives the two brothers a chance to do something that doesn't involve alcohol, nights and weekend hours in a different locale.
The downtown operation is more deli-like than their full-service restaurant/bar at Oakwood Avenue and West 14th Street. So far, Mike Nickerson says, things at the East Water Street location are going smoothly. The cafe does wraps and sandwiches, soup and chili and daily lunch specials.
The decor includes posters of movie and music legends, including Marilyn Monroe, The Who and the Rolling Stones. And Nickerson has come up with a few ideas about how to make things better for his business and the others on the block. Meanwhile, John Travers isn't having the same good luck, as he again looks for someone to run the Mark Twain Cafe, part of the deal when he bought the former Mark Twain Hotel in 2000.
And who can blame Travers for trying to find a new operator for the eatery? Despite downtown's bad rap, several lunch spots -- including Barb's Soup's On, Los Panchos and Horigan's Tavern -- are successful and show that with the right business plan and owner, it is possible to make money feeding downtown workers. Two of the three operators who have run the Mark Twain Cafe since Travers took over the property came very close to turning the business into a success story.
With the right person in charge, Travers is confident the Mark Twain Cafe can become a viable business. "There's a definite need for a nice little restaurant there," Travers says. Derek O'Brian ran the place from August 2002 to April 2003.
He had food service experience, a good plan and the right temperament for the job. But he discovered he lacked the time and cash reserves it sometimes takes to nurture a start-up restaurant. Allen Wendella spent seven months at the cafe before becoming overwhelmed by the business and giving way to the latest owners, Tim and Penny Hall, who took over in December 2004.
The Halls -- with experience, a good plan and the right temperament -- were throwbacks to O'Brian. And from December 2004 to August 2006, they ran a tight ship that appeared destined for success. But Tim Hall got a second job at a Southport home improvement store and Penny Hall ran into health problems and had to close the business.
She thought she'd be able to return and talked about it with Travers. But things didn't work out and the restaurant is dark again. "Penny and Tim did a wonderful job, and I'll do whatever it takes to get somebody in there again," said Travers.
"I'll work with (the next operator) to try to make it work. Everything is open for discussion." Nickerson hopes the discussion format is the same when talk turns to ways to boost his cafe's drive-up business.
At Legends in Elmira Heights, the section of West 14th Street right outside the eatery features diagonal parking. Rumor has it that Elmira's city fathers are looking at something similar for the south side of Water Street, but would have to sacrifice a piece of Riverfront Park to do it. Nickerson is all for it.
Businesses like his, the neighboring bank and the news stand a few doors away thrive on customers who drive up, pick up what they want and drive away. "We've always considered doing something in downtown Elmira," said Nickerson. "The bank gave us a good deal and we took advantage of it.
We're confident things will get better (downtown). Can they get any worse?" G.
Jeffrey Aaron is the business writer for the Star-Gazette. His column about business happenings and issues appears weekly on the Sunday business page. To suggest a column topic or story idea, call him at 607/271-8288 or e-mail him at .
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