CAPE VINCENT — The owner of The Coal Docks Restaurant and Bar business said that she plans to reopen, although not in the same spot.
The restaurant, 592 Broadway St., closed in the spring. The establishment was owned by Marcie Travers-Barth. The restaurant building itself is owned by Ronald J. Trottier, who also owns The Anchor Marina, across the street from The Coal Docks. Trottier also owns the property where the abandoned trawler Anna was stored. The boat, which had a cult following, had its pilot house blown off by the wind earlier this month, further eroding what was left of it and ending any hope of resurrection. The boat was a mascot at The Coal Docks.
“The restaurant will be reopening in a different location, but I’m not ready to announce where yet,” Travers-Barth said. “I closed due to much, much-needed repairs.”
However, a new business is in the process of moving into the building. It will be the home of HomeTown Meals To Go, a catering business started two years ago by Cape Vincent resident Alicia Johnson.
“It needed a lot of work,” Johnson said of the building. “We’re in the process of replacing the floor in the kitchen and trying to get that all up to snuff for the health department. The other stuff is personal, cosmetic. Ron has kind of given us the go-ahead. He’s helped structurally with stuff, but other than that, my husband owns a contracting business, so he’s pretty handy.”
Johnson said that they had planned to open a building for her business on Route 12, where she and her husband own property. “But my husband tore his rotator cuff and was out of work for a while and they got kind of stalled. When we were ready to ramp up again, the Coal Docks opportunity came up and my heart is in this village. We’re so happy to be right here.”
Johnson said she hopes HomeTown Meals To Go will be open in time for the annual French Festival, July 12 to 14. As a caterer, Johnson prepares meals that have been ordered for various events. People can also pick up meals — a business plan that will be the same at her new site.
“It will still be a couple meals a week, but it will also be a grab-and-go restaurant and also have pre-made stuff. The dining room will be for private parties than can book, and I will cater right there.”
The menu for grab-and-go, Johnson said, will change weekly. “It’ll be wraps, salads, sandwiches and all that. We hope to open a take-out window in the back, but that will probably be next summer, because I have so many commitments this year.”
The dining out scene in Cape Vincent sustained a blow earlier this month when Channel Marker 243 was destroyed by fire. It had only been open for around three months after owner Michael J. Hazelwood spent the winter getting ready for the busy summer season. He plans to rebuild.
Read More: Coal Docks Restaurant closes, to be berth for new business | Business