Keepers of the Castle
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| Stone Castle Inn owner Tom Riordan, center, and his staff at the historic restaurant’s grand reopening Friday. Photo by Doron Tyler Antrim |
Officials, dignitaries help reopen historic restaurant
By Doron Tyler Antrim
Hudson-Catskill Newspapers
CAIRO — The owner of Cairo’s Stone Castle Inn bar & grill was praised Friday by county and town officials for his efforts in turning around the building — the former home of the Stone Tower Restaurant — and providing a new option for local dining.
Tom Riordan, who moved to the U.S. from Ireland in 1984 and ate at the Stone Tower many times before it ceased operations, purchased the building in 2009 with the intent of reinventing the space.
With the help of funding from the Greene County Department on Economic Development, Tourism & Planning and other loans, Riordan has indeed transformed the space.
“Everything needed work, from the roof to the floors,” Riordan has said previously. “The floors were buckled and needed to be replaced. The roof leaked and had to be redone.” The kitchen and bathrooms have been rebuilt and workers were able to restore the original bar and stone fireplace.
Some things from the old restaurant have been recycled, including a pot holder that’s now employed as a chandelier. “We just couldn’t throw it out,” Riordan said.
During an event at the restaurant Friday, Riordan was congratulated for his work and his decision to pick Cairo.
“I’d like to thank Tom for choosing us for his establishment,” said Roxy Raffa, president of the Cairo Chamber of Commerce.
Warren Hart, director of the county’s Department of Economic Development, Tourism & Planning, congratulated Riordan and his staff for their “wonderful restaurant,” adding that restaurants play an important role in the county’s economy. “We all know we’re a tourism county,” he said.
Hart said his department has provided the Stone Castle Inn a $60,000 loan through its Quantum Fund and funded exterior work on the building last year with a $7,500 grant from its Main Street Revitalization Program.
Riordan thanked the “support and patronage” of the community and saluted the county and town of Cairo, including Dan Benoit, chairman of the town planning board and board member Ray Pacifico.
Riordan said his future plans for the property include paving the parking lot and outdoor lighting and seating.
He has hired eight staff, including general manager Jonathan Kearney, who handles the day-to-day operations.
Riordan, 55, who works full-time in real estate in New York City, owns a weekend home in East Durham and says he plans to retire here.
County Legislator Harry Lennon, D-Cairo, one of several legislators who attended the event, said everyone is “looking forward to (the Stone Castle’s) success.”
The Stone Castle Inn is located on Route 145, less than a mile from the intersection with Route 23. It’s open seven days a week starting at noon and serves lunch and dinner. It can be reached at 518-622-9177 or at stonecastleinn@gmail.com. It’s also on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/Stone-Castle-Inn-Bar-Grill#!/pages/Stone-Castle-Inn-Bar-Grill/112759245459685.
-Miguel Madera contributed reporting
Tom Riordan, who moved to the U.S. from Ireland in 1984 and ate at the Stone Tower many times before it ceased operations, purchased the building in 2009 with the intent of reinventing the space.
With the help of funding from the Greene County Department on Economic Development, Tourism & Planning and other loans, Riordan has indeed transformed the space.
“Everything needed work, from the roof to the floors,” Riordan has said previously. “The floors were buckled and needed to be replaced. The roof leaked and had to be redone.” The kitchen and bathrooms have been rebuilt and workers were able to restore the original bar and stone fireplace.
Some things from the old restaurant have been recycled, including a pot holder that’s now employed as a chandelier. “We just couldn’t throw it out,” Riordan said.
During an event at the restaurant Friday, Riordan was congratulated for his work and his decision to pick Cairo.
“I’d like to thank Tom for choosing us for his establishment,” said Roxy Raffa, president of the Cairo Chamber of Commerce.
Warren Hart, director of the county’s Department of Economic Development, Tourism & Planning, congratulated Riordan and his staff for their “wonderful restaurant,” adding that restaurants play an important role in the county’s economy. “We all know we’re a tourism county,” he said.
Hart said his department has provided the Stone Castle Inn a $60,000 loan through its Quantum Fund and funded exterior work on the building last year with a $7,500 grant from its Main Street Revitalization Program.
Riordan thanked the “support and patronage” of the community and saluted the county and town of Cairo, including Dan Benoit, chairman of the town planning board and board member Ray Pacifico.
Riordan said his future plans for the property include paving the parking lot and outdoor lighting and seating.
He has hired eight staff, including general manager Jonathan Kearney, who handles the day-to-day operations.
Riordan, 55, who works full-time in real estate in New York City, owns a weekend home in East Durham and says he plans to retire here.
County Legislator Harry Lennon, D-Cairo, one of several legislators who attended the event, said everyone is “looking forward to (the Stone Castle’s) success.”
The Stone Castle Inn is located on Route 145, less than a mile from the intersection with Route 23. It’s open seven days a week starting at noon and serves lunch and dinner. It can be reached at 518-622-9177 or at stonecastleinn@gmail.com. It’s also on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/Stone-Castle-Inn-Bar-Grill#!/pages/Stone-Castle-Inn-Bar-Grill/112759245459685.
-Miguel Madera contributed reporting
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