By Lauren Young
While few exterior changes are so far planned for the Bull & Bear Roadhouse moving into the former Hullar’s Restaurant in Fayetteville, one thing will change for certain — making the main entry and exit handicap accessible.
Site plans and a special use permit for the Bull & Bear Roadhouse moving into the former 107-year-old Fayetteville eatery were presented by Bull & Bear Roadhouse Owner Mark Bullis and Architect Shelia Weed of Group 1 Design at the last Fayetteville Planning Board meeting on Monday, Sept. 10. According to Bullis, there are no major exterior changes planned for the structure on 411 East Genesee Street in Fayetteville, aside from repainting and making the main entry and exit handicap accessibility, which he said was planned from the beginning.
“This [focus on accessibility] is very close to me,” said Bullis, adding that floor plans also propose the installation of a ramp, along with modified door swings for the exit. “When we first started talking about this, I said, Bull & Bear can’t have a building that isn’t accessible. It was the first and most important thing.”
As for the closed coffee shop space, Architect Shelia Weed said it could not be modified for handicap accessibility, so plans propose to create an opening between the restaurant and the shop to create more space.
“There was no way we could get handicap accessibility into the space,” said Weed. “There’s steps in the back and the front doors are too close in sequence, so there was no accessibility into that area.”
While Bull & Bear Roadhouse will not be serving breakfast, it will be serving brunch on Sundays, said Bullis.
One board member questioned why there were not more exterior changes planned to transform what was once Hullar’s Restaurant, a 107-year-old former Fayetteville staple and one of the oldest restaurants in the Syracuse area, to something more like the Bull & Bear brand.
“I think you have a great opportunity for your brand, coming into the Village of Fayetteville, taking a building that is a landmark here in town. I think you’re missing out by not doing something to the front, besides painting it,” said Associate Member Scott Dumas. “That building’s over a 100 years old — it could use a refresh.”
“I’d certainly be open to the conversation,” said Bullis.
Unlike other Bull & Bear establishments, Bullis is still uncertain if the Fayetteville location, the third restaurant in the chain, will feature live music, as there are tenants who live upstairs and neighbors next door to consider.
While parking has long been an issue for the location, no additional spaces are planned for the roadhouse, but Chairperson Jane Rice said the board will move forward with the site plan application once Bullis and his team get a headcount of all the parking spaces it plans on using. According to site plans, 43 parking spaces are required overall.
The planning board will review the project’s site plans again at a public hearing starting at 7 p.m. on Oct. 1 at the Fayetteville Town Hall.
