More restaurants eyeing downtown Amesbury

By Katie Farrell
Staff writer

July 25, 2008 03:57 am

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AMESBURY — Years ago, downtown Amesbury was not known for a vast number of choices when it came to where to go to eat.

That's no longer the case.

Amesbury currently boasts about a dozen different eateries within the downtown Market Square area. And that number continues to grow.

The town was approved for two more liquor licenses this week after filing a home rule petition last year when the town ran out of available licenses to give. One petition was filed for J. Buck's Wine and Espresso Bar, which wanted a full liquor license. That restaurant has since closed.

The other was proposed for a restaurant that planned to open at rear 36 Main St.

The fact that the state Legislature approved the petition is good news for Steven Wilson, the owner of 36 Main St., a brick building next to the Powow River that for years has been occupied by Old Newbury Crafters and Vernon Martin Inc., Realtors.

Wilson, of Jones and Wilson, LLC in Exeter, N.H., has been waiting to get that license — something he says is key to having a tenant move into the space in his downtown building.

The real estate group is negotiating with three potential tenants — all regional restaurants with other locations — that have visited the property and shown an interest, Wilson said.

Talks are still ongoing with all three restaurants, Wilson said.

"We want a strong draw for the downtown," he said.

One of the potential restaurants is the Roobar, which has locations on the Cape, including Falmouth, Chatham and Plymouth. Wilson did not name the other two restaurants.

In addition to waiting for the license, Wilson said the group has also been in discussions with the town about the design and plans for the Riverwalk since the pedestrian path, once it is finished, will use "a significant part" of their property.

The company bought 36 Main St. at an auction several years ago and has been renovating it, he said.

According to Rep. Michael Costello's office, the second license can be given by the Liquor Commission to any establishment in a commercially zoned area.

Gov. Deval Patrick must sign the measure to grant Amesbury the additional licenses since the town has reached the maximum number of liquor licenses it could give out.

Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Stefanie McCowan said there has been "a multitude" of people interested in the J. Buck's space on Water Street in the Lower Millyard. J. Buck's suddenly shut its doors in February and has remained closed.

"As soon as it was announced that it was for sale, our phone didn't stop ringing," McCowan said. "We had a ton of interest."

The majority of callers were interested in keeping the theme of J. Buck's the same as it was, McCowan said.

With plans to renovate the Lower Millyard, the addition of the transportation center and the completion of the Riverwalk — as well as a proposed Carriage Hill Landing residential/commercial village for the Bartley Machine property — the area will be bustling, McCowan said.

"Whoever goes there, if it's run properly, there's almost no way it can't succeed," McCowan said.

Construction of the new Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority transportation center nearby could begin as early as next month.

With the potential for two new restaurants heading into town, McCowan said she thinks the town has the parking spaces to handle the crowd — something that store owners and downtown shoppers have always questioned.

"I really think that we have enough parking," she said, adding that the parking deck on Water Street is never completely full.

Repairs to the parking deck have been proposed in the mayor's capital improvement plan.

The Town Hall parking lot is also available to use after the building closes for the day, McCowan said. One option could be to put up more signs directing customers where they can park, she said.

McCowan said Amesbury is "absolutely" becoming a destination for restaurants as owners look for new locations, and Amesbury has an image of being the next "up and coming" town.

Jeff Nahas, a co-owner of the Barking Dog and Ale House, two downtown restaurants, said he's seeing a "spectacular summer" at both his locations.

Adding more to the mix of eateries won't be harmful, he said, as long as all the eateries continue to offer different choices to customers, he said.

"As long as we do things differently ... as long as we give people different options, we'll all be fine," Nahas said.

The dining crowd he's seeing is a mix of both regulars and new faces, Nahas said.

"I think there is a buzz about Amesbury," Nahas said.

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