Two former automobile salesmen plan to take a spin with the restaurant business. Daniel Nye and Matthew Scott — who recently quit their jobs at Burdick BMW — have purchased the White Water Pub at 110 S. Willow St., on the village’s sprawling Basin Block.
Businesswoman Mary Kay Manns opened the British-style pub in 2009 and operated it for eight years, enjoying especially vibrant summer months when its outdoor patio bar attracts significant patronage. Mary Kay confirmed that she sold the bar biz earlier this month.
The pub will likely reopen for business before the end of March.
Although Nye and Scott are rookie restaurateurs, they’re leaning heavily on Nye’s father, Bill Nye, to help oversee the White Water. “Dan’s dad has a solid background in the restaurant business,” Scott said. “He’s opened dozens of places over the years including Kahunaville at Carousel Center.”
The new pub owners will also benefit from the ongoing presence of Mary Kay Manns.
“I’ll be staying on with the new owners to help with the transition and tend bar for the time being,” she said.
While under Mary Kay’s management, the pub became well-known for its bacon-infused Irish Bloody Mary and its Monday-night crab-boils.
Scott predicted some menu changes. “Since we’re the White Water Pub, we’ll serve more seafood items, but otherwise we’ll continue the pub-style menu, nothing more fancy than it should be,” he said.
Renovations will include replacing chairs and tables and refurbishing the floor, Scott said, but he and Nye intend to keep the dark wood interior installed by Mary Kay’s husband, Mike Manns, in 2009. “That woodwork is just beautiful,” Scott commented.
A ribbon-cutting will be scheduled in the next few weeks.
Property still for sale
While the White Water Pub has been sold, the property on which is sits at 108-110 S. Willow St., remains up for sale, according to Patrick Hillery, a realtor from the Pyramid Brokerage Company.
Rumors of the property’s sale are either too early or simply inaccurate, Hillery indicated. The property is owned by the heirs of late Liverpool businessman Val Lamont, mother-and-son Valerie and Dennis Kosdrosky.
More than a year ago, prominent village tavern-keeper John Gormel made a purchase offer and also reportedly offered to buy the pub business from Manns. He withdrew the purchase offer after realizing that there were easements attached to the property, and never closed the deal with Manns.
Irv & Edgar at Limp Lizard
Meanwhile, on the First Street side of the Basin Block, the Limp Lizard Barbecue, at 201 First St., continues presenting live music along with its Southern-style vittles, on Friday evening, Feb. 23, with lefty guitarist Irv Lyons and five-string bassist Edgar Pagan. That funkified twosome hosts the weekly Tuesday-night jam session at the Limp.
The music rings out on March 1 with Rhapsody; March 9 with keyboardist Just Joe; March 23 with Patrick Sampson; and March 30 with Steven Cali..
Admission is free at the Limp Lizard; limplizardbbq.com/locations/liverpool; 315-451-9774.
Last word
“We’re a major stakeholder and should have been involved.” — Liverpool Village Trustee Christina Fadden Fitch, regarding the state DOT’s tentative plan to close off First and South Willow streets at Heid’s corner.
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