(BUFFALO, NY) – Mayor Byron W. Brown and the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy joined The Terrace @ Delaware Park operators, Jason Davidson and Mike Shatzel, to announce the restaurant will open to the public today at 5pm.
“The Terrace @ Delaware Park offers another reason to spend time in Delaware Park every season of the year. The interior renovations, which give the upper level of the Marcy Casino the feel of an historic restaurant and bar, are very impressive and welcoming. We look forward to working with The Terrace operators, the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy and park neighbors to make this a successful addition to this very special location,” Mayor Brown said.
The Terrace will be open for lunch on Tuesday, April 4. For this weekend, the Bar opens at 4pm; dinner service begins at 5pm on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Saturday and Sunday brunch will begin later in the spring. The Marcy Casino’s lower level will continue as a venue for private banquet events. Neighbors of Marcy Casino were invited to a private “sneak peek” and tasting of The Terrace fare on Wednesday evening, with more than 100 attending.
In 1875, the Delaware Park Casino was a community-gathering place and it featured a restaurant. The opening of The Terrace marks the first time in over a decade, this facility will be open to the public on a regular basis with this innovative partnership contributing to the building’s upkeep and the Olmsted park system.
“As the Olmsted park’s non-profit caretakers, the mission of the Conservancy is to preserve and restore our historic parks, as well as to maintain and privately raise over $2.2 million each year to sustain them,” said Stephanie Crockatt, Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy’s executive director. “The private funding invested for this renovation is incredible, as not one tax dollar was spent. Plus the partnership agreement returns a percentage of restaurant sales to the Conservancy which we anticipate may support five seasonal park workers to help maintain these park treasures. We are grateful for this collaborative effort and investment which now allows public access to a one of kind amenity that sits at one of our City’s most popular locations, with the best views of nature, history and culture.”
Delaware District Common Council Member Joel P. Feroleto, shared his enthusiasm for the opening, “This is an exciting time for Delaware Park. We welcome The Terrace opening as an addition to an already stellar Olmsted Parks system.”
The Terrace will be serving a contemporary global cuisine with a focus on shared plates. Its menu, hours and details are found on its website terracebuffalo.com. Under its partnership agreement, The Terrace @ Delaware Park will hold a last seating by 9 p.m. in allowing patrons time to finish, as the park and building close at 10 p.m.
“The vision and operational plan for The Terrace is to spotlight a high-quality accessible experience with a locally sourced menu. It features décor that pays homage to Olmsted and Vaux through the vision and direction of Sarah Fitzpatrick of Sarah Fitzpatrick Design with the assistance of Suzanne Shatzel,” stated Jason Davidson, managing partner of The Terrace. “It has been an honor to renovate such an important building and our goal is to continue to work toward elevating it to the stature of our neighbors at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo History Museum, and Burchfield Penney Art Center.”
The interior woodwork for The Terrace was custom designed by Scott Everett and installed by his Clarence, NY based company, Stately Builders. The physical transformation includes installation of heart pine hardwood flooring, mosaic tile, rich walnut wainscoting as well as exposed brick walls and a library fireplace are all warm details reminiscent of the area’s heritage. An arch and beam system was installed in the nave of the Terrace to enliven the long and vast ceiling void.
The bar area of the new restaurant was created to have a feeling of coziness juxtaposed with the openness of the dining room and the natural surroundings of Delaware Park and Hoyt Lake. The front of the bar was fabricated to replicate patterns in the historic bench settees once adorning Hoyt Lake during the casino’s prominence a century ago.
The Conservancy will begin restoration of the historic landscape between the Marcy Casino and the Rose Garden starting in early to mid-April. An existing parking area in the front will be removed and relocated closer to Lincoln Parkway to provide handicapped parking and an accessible pathway to the Marcy Casino.
The project will restore pathways and plantings, and create a safer, pedestrian friendly environment within the park by connecting the Rose Garden to the building. The construction will result in a reduction of impervious surface and return considerable vegetation to the landscape.
“The elegant modifications at The Terrace are exciting, and the restored historic landscape out front will only complement,” stated Crockatt. “Being always mindful of our patrons and residents, temporary entrance ways into the Casino for restaurant and banquet services will be directed with signage through the Rose Garden, as driveway access is being discontinued.
We also ask neighbors and visitors to bear with us as demolition and restoration can have its inconveniences and be a sight – however this entire project will be a proud accomplishment.”
This construction will take a maximum of 6 weeks to complete, and will be finished by June’s wedding and Shakespeare season.
“Through the artistic carpentry and design of The Terrace it is our intention to respect the past while showcasing that Buffalo can continue to move forward in new and exciting ways,” stated Davidson. “Our vision was to renovate the upstairs to make it beautiful yet approachable, a place for all to feel welcome, whether out for a nice dinner or just taking a stroll through the park. We can’t wait for the public to enjoy this space in this historic setting for years to come.”
Mayor Brown has committed more than $850,000 in capital funding for the Marcy Casino since 2006. Structural improvements to the City-owned site include: deck, railing and column reconstructions on the terrace, a new elevator, window replacement and stone work on the exterior of the building.
Since entering into its partnership with the Conservancy in 2010, the City has invested nearly
$23 million in capital improvements into Olmsted Parks.
