One local entrepreneur has a vision to make the hamlet of Jamesville a new dining and accommodation destination, and, to that end, he is currently in the midst of pushing forward on several proposed projects that he says will help enhance and spice up the small community during the ensuing year.
Stephen Hadley, owner of Hadley’s LLC, is working with others in the community to make Jamesville a place for residents to enjoy and to attract people from outside communities. Hadley and his colleagues have purchased the former Glen Loch Mill and will be renting O’Shea’s Tavern with plans to renovate the buildings. The team has already opened Notch 8 Café in the former Split Rock Grille.
“It’s a drive-through area,” Hadley said. “I want to change that. It’s such a distressed market that hasn’t really been canvassed. All I see is unlimited potential.”
Hadley has been working with Jackie Place, of Lead Brokerage in Manlius; Jason Drysdale, former culinary director at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino; and Joseph Stewart, former chef at the Turning Stone Steakhouse, to create new dining and accommodation destinations in Jamesville.
Since December, Hadley has organized monthly meetings at the Jamesville Fire Station for the public to attend and voice their concerns and ideas for Jamesville. Hadley said there has been a lot of interest in these meetings, with upwards of 90 people in attendance at them.
“We want to work diligently with other committees to try and spearhead one committee,” Hadley said. “You take those community leaders and those with passion for the hamlet … and get them all to work together to devise a plan.”
The next meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25, at the Jamesville Fire Department, 6661 E. Seneca Turnpike, Jamesville.
By keeping the traditional elements of life in the hamlet and enhancing them by with a stimulating and inviting flare, Hadley said he thinks he will be able to do this while adding jobs to the local economy.
The first of the projects started in December with the opening of Notch 8 Café in the former Split Rock Grille. This included renovations of the inside of the restaurant and the addition of the culinary talents of Stewart as head chef.
“I really want people to have the full dining experience here,” Hadley said. Eventually, Hadley hopes to implement a culinary training program that will teach interested workers culinary skills.
Another project Hadley and his team are working on is TriNiQ, which is a planned renovation of the former Glen Loch Mill.
The TRiNiQ project is a multi-level dining and event center that includes three floors with plans for different restaurants on each level, including a high-end restaurant on the second level, a family restaurant on the main floor and outdoor dining in the lawn. The event center would be ideal for weddings, live music and other receptions, said Hadley.
One last major project is the renovation of the former O’Shea’s Tavern into the Hamlet Hotel. Hadley plans to have a spa/salon on the bottom floor, with hotel accommodations on the top levels that are ideal for bridal parties, but will be open to anyone who may need them.
Hadley also has plans to make Butternut Creek more accessible to the community by installing a parking area near the creek.
“When I was a kid, I loved coming to the creek to catch snakes. It was a place I went to get away from it all,” Hadley said. “I have a fond attachment to that area.”
Hadley said he hopes to have these projects done by 2016.
Hayleigh Gowans is a reporter for the Eagle Bulletin. She can be reached at [email protected].
