The Erie County Industrial Development Agency approved a request from developer Rocco Termini for a total of $131,000 in tax abatements for two downtown restaurant projects.
Termini plans to convert the Golden Swan Café and Grille, at 437 Ellicott St., to an affordable Italian, family-style eatery. The building is just south of Termini’s Ellicott Lofts, Ellicott Commons and IS Lofts projects.
The former Horton Coffee Co. building, at 338 Ellicott St., will be renovated into a reasonably-priced family restaurant. Termini purchased the site last Thursday paying $70,000 for the one-story building. Crews were gutting the property on Friday.
In both projects, Termini who has completed several successful downtown housing projects and added other retail and restaurant sites to Ellicott Street, is partnering with restaurant veterans. Sarah Ketry, daughter of Pearl Street Brewery & Grill owner, Earl Ketry, and high-profile local chef and restaurant owner Mike Andrzejwski, are teaming with Termini to bring the idle sites back to life as eateries.
Investment in the two restaurants will total $800,000 and create 10 full-time jobs when they are up and running.