today's local newspaper printed the article below.....Guess you would know this makes me happy! Yea a new Life for a very cool place!!!!
Brits might reopen old eatery
SOUTHFIELDS — It's been sitting vacant for years now, a shell of its former glory as a beloved pit stop on the way to the Catskill Mountains.
The signature apple still rests on top of the eatery, long since condemned because of extensive roof damage. The Red Apple Rest is far from the icon it was during the heyday of the Borscht Belt.
But the landmark in this hamlet in the Town of Tuxedo might soon be bustling once again.
The Ace Cafe of London, a motorcyle-themed joint, is looking to open its first location in North America, and officials have their eye on the Red Apple.
"I think what is really intriguing is the close proximity to New York City and the idea that this is a gateway up to the mountains and lakes," said Mark McKee, managing partner for Ace Cafe's North American operations. "This is a great riding area, along with the history of this roadside diner, which is how the Ace Cafe in London started."
2012 eyed for opening
The Ace Cafe was built in 1938 in London as a 24-hour roadside cafe, a rest stop of sorts for truck drivers and other motorists. It soon attracted motorcyclists, and by the 1950s, it became an icon to bikers, a go-to spot for people to meet, grab a bite to eat, listen to the jukebox and mend their bikes.
The Ace Cafe closed in 1969, but its legacy lived on. After several reunions, it reopened in 1997.
McKee is looking at all corners of the country to find the right location for the eatery, which he would like to open in 2012.
He is looking for a place with a deeply entrenched culture for motorcycles and cars.
Town a magnet for bikers
Tuxedo Supervisor Peter Dolan is not getting his hopes up. He knows the Red Apple is up against locales across the U.S. He also knows how much rehabilitation it needs.
That said, Dolan thinks it would be the perfect location. The town conducted a study recently and found that about 17,000 motorcycles travel through Tuxedo during the summer months.
"I think it would just be a cool thing for the town," he said. "It fits the town's profile perfectly. It's nostalgic and a cool concept. Everything I can do as supervisor I will do to get Ace Cafe there."
No comments:
Post a Comment