New restaurant and bar operator appointed at golf course

by Dan McClelland

The town board in January approved two leases- one between the golf course board of directors for the use of the town-owned facility on Mt. Morris and one with the new concessionaire at the golf course restaurant building.

Jaime Armstrong of the Glen Falls area is the golf course board's choice to operate the restaurant and bar next summer, Councilman Mike Dechene, who serves on the town board's country club committee with Supervisor Patti Littlefield, told his colleagues on the evening of January 9. His contract with the golf course board is for three years.

The restaurant has been operated by Jim Ellis as the Burgundy Steakhouse for the past three years, but that contract wasn't renewed for 2020.

Mr. Dechene and Mrs. Littlefield met Mr. Armstrong at a recent golf course board meeting and Mr. Dechene described him as a “fine, young gentleman.”

Mr. Armstrong has a background in golfing and has competed in the Tupper Lake Pro-Am several times, the supervisor noted. “He knows our course.”

Mr. Dechene said while Mr. Armstrong has never operated a restaurant by himself, he has worked in their kitchens at the golf courses he has been associated with in past years. “He is familiar with ordering and restaurant set-up,” Mr. Dechene said. “I think we are heading in the right direction!”

Mr. Armstrong is currently working to obtain his state liquor license through Attorney Kirk Gagnier.

Mr. Armstrong was recently associated with the Green Mansion Golf Club in Chestertown, N.Y. He studied professional golf management at SUNY Delhi.

Mr. Dechene drew his colleagues back to action they had taken at the December meeting to purchase some new equipment for the restaurant's kitchen. The deal was the town would buy some pieces, including a three-bay sink and faucet and a dishwasher and the golf course board would buy other needed pieces like a new gas stove.

When Mr. Ellis took over the operation, many of the old pieces were junked and he brought in much of his own equipment. With his departure this fall he rightfully took his appliances with him.

Last month the board voted to spend upwards of $5,000 for the dishwasher, sink and faucet assembly.

“The club sent me some invoices for the equipment we were looking to acquire,” Mr. Dechene told his colleagues.

He said board member Gerry Goldman is point man on the appliance acquisitions and contacted a company out of Albany with ties to state contract purchasing “which is how we want to purchase this equipment.”

Mr. Dechene said for the type and size of kitchen at the golf course the company suggested a model of dishwasher that would be appropriate for the operation there.

He said the company representative suggested a dishwasher and sink and faucet which totaled $5,700.

The elected official said the golf course board has agreed to contribute the extra $700 so the amount didn't exceed the board's upper limit of spending.

Mr. Dechene said Mr. Goldman plans to talk more with the company to try to shave more off the $5,700 price quoted.

Mr. Dechene suggested the board defer action to give Mr. Goldman time to negotiate a better price.

For its part in replenishing the kitchen equipment the golf course board intends to purchase a new gas stove, sandwich board and deep fryer.

“All the pieces that will be purchased will belong to the town, even the appliances that the golf course board buys.”

“So everything in the kitchen will be owned by the town?” asked Councilman John Quinn. Mr. Dechene said it all would be.

“The golf course board members are happy we're working with them,” he said as an aside.

“-And we're happy they have found someone to run the restaurant, and so quickly!” asserted Supervisor Littlefield.