Restaurant owner will not open cafe at Poxabogue Golf Center
August 8, 2010 by deo_lookout · Leave a Comment
Poxabogue Golf Center in Sagaponack will not be getting new restaurant any time soon. The Towns of Southampton and East Hampton purchased the nine-hole property back in 2003 from around $6 million. This sorted story included some interesting details (and great comments). Will James, of 27east.com, reports a few things are getting in the way of this deal…
Rent and build out costs are an issue…
Michael Avella, the owner of Love Lane Kitchen in Mattituck, …said he was asked to pay $7,500 per month or 10 percent of gross revenues, whichever was greater, in the contract presented to him by Ed Wankel, the owner of Long Island Golf Management, which has a contract to manage the Poxabogue property for the towns. In addition, Mr. Wankel said earlier this summer that he and Mr. Avella had agreed to jointly sink some $250,000 into improvements to the restaurant space.
In 2008, Mr. Wankel signed a five-year contract with the two towns to manage the property, which also gave him control of the restaurant’s lease. The restaurant lease had always been negotiated separately by the town with Fairway Restaurant owner Danny Murray, but board members said they wanted to shed the responsibility.
Danny Murray left the Fairway restaurant after 20 years due to disagreements over lease terms – roof repair, hours and rent. Once Murray left, extensive mold damage was found (and repaired).
With that work complete, the Towns, Wankel and Avella had different ideas of what kind of restaurant should be built …
“Basically, they wanted to put restrictions on the restaurant,” Mr. Avella said. “On top of paying an exorbitant rent, which I was okay with … they wanted to limit our hours of operation, and it went on for too long. The season is gone.”
Southampton Town officials were surprised when Mr. Avella applied for a liquor license for Love Lane Café last fall and learned that the restaurant planned to serve dinner, Town Councilman Chris Nuzzi said. Alcohol has never been served on the property.
What’s next…
On Tuesday, the Southampton Town Board voted in favor of the towns taking control of the restaurant lease again and putting out a request seeking a new restaurant operator. The goal, Mr. Nuzzi said, is to maintain a “small” and “family-friendly” eatery at the site. All bids will be considered, Mr. Nuzzi said, including ones by Mr. Avella or even Mr. Murray, should they throw their hats in the ring.
