Published: November 19, 2008 08:50 pm      

BUSINESS: Fournier leaves Cafe Etc. to reopen Orchard Grill

Good-bye Cafe Etc., hello Orchard Grill.

Niagara Falls Councilman Steve Fournier confirmed Wednesday he has closed and is selling his Cafe Etc. building on Third Street to begin a new business venture as operator of the Orchard Grill on Main Street.

“I was just looking to downsize because of my political career and other job,” said Fournier, adding the move shouldn’t be considered as a stab against Third Street. “I tried on Third Street and I have no regrets. It’s not that I didn’t make any money or make a lot of good friends, but with the economy the way it is, I decided to go elsewhere.”

Fournier has finalized a five-year lease to operate the Orchard Grill restaurant, which has been closed since Niagara County Legislator Jason Murgia announced last month he was looking to sell the building. The first-year city councilman received his new liquor license this week and is in the process of doing minor renovations inside the restaurant, with the anticipation of opening back up by early December.

The popular Main Street eatery will retain its name and most of its menu, but Fournier said he’s expanding the hours of operation, offering delivery service and serving a T-bone steak dinner in the evenings. He’s also interested in purchasing the building from Murgia.

Meanwhile, his Cafe Etc. jazz club has become another closed business on Third Street, and will remain that way for at least the near future as Fournier attempts to sell the building. He declined to say how much he’s asking for the property, but said he’s already received some interest.

In September, he had agreed to lease the business out to Don’t Blink Entertainment owner Louie Bax, who already helps manage Club New York and the Ultra Lounge on Third Street. That deal fell through after Fournier decided he’d rather sell the building, however, the councilman said he would reconsider leasing opportunities if no buyers come forward within the next couple of months.

“The good thing about Cafe Etc. is it is a turn-key business and not like other vacant buildings on Third Street that need thousands of dollars to renovate before opening,” he said.

Fournier renovated the old Rockwells bar and reopened it as Cafe Etc. in 2002 with his wife Michelle Colato. The opening helped lead to a resurgence of Third Street as an entertainment district, but the street reconstruction project completed by USA Niagara Development Co. two years ago didn’t bolster business as anticipated.

“I would say my business dwindled by 25 to 30 percent since the new street was put in,” Fournier said, “and my taxes have gone up 110 percent.”

He credited any success Cafe had to the support of the Colato family and his father who owns Donatello’s Restaurant next door.

“Michelle and I worked very hard to establish it,” he said. “There’s a lot of good memories tied to that building. It was tough to close down, it’s still tough.”

Murgia, who has operated the Orchard Grill prior to becoming a county legislator, didn’t return a call seeking comment Wednesday.