By Denise Richardson
Staff Writer
ONEONTA _ Elena Doyle
said she has been given notice
to vacate 281 Main St., where she
has been serving coffee, baking
pastries and fixing meals for almost
14 years, to accommodate
another owner and restaurateur.
She has until July 31 and is
searching for another location
where she can serve guests of
Elena’s Sweet Indulgence and
operate her catering business.
Customers are wondering not
only about the restaurant, she
said, but also about her obligations
in August and September
to cater weddings, parties and
other events.
``We actually had two customers
cry,’’ Doyle said.
The situation is a hurdle that
she’ll get over, she said, though
how wasn’t clear Tuesday.
Jeff House, former downtown
developer for the city, said
Doyle faces a tough challenge
to find a suitable place, and the
time constraints make it more
difficult. Retailers can pick up
their merchandise and move,
he said, but a restaurant needs
a kitchen that meets health department
codes.
The sale of the 281 Main
St. building hasn’t closed,
said Robert Gouldin, attorney
for Paul Maerz, who
wants to buy the structure
and move Bella Pockets
into it.
Maerz, who opened Bella
Pockets in Clinton Plaza
downtown in 2003, referred
questions to Gouldin.
The vacancy in the Main
Street building was part of
the contract to purchase,
Gouldin said, but Maerz
has generously offered to
work with Doyle to enable
her to meet her catering
obligations.
Doyle said his offer to
share space was a ``kind
gesture’’ but didn’t seem
practical considering the
``organized chaos’’ of her
catering operation. Also,
Bella Pockets attracts more
college students than her
business, which has grown
to also serve families and
``old Oneonta.’’
Doyle said Gouldin delivered
a letter June 30
about the pending sale
with a termination notice
signed by building owner
Allen Fassler.
Doyle said she originally
had a five-year contract
with Fassler, but after 2002
or 2003, she was paying rent
on a monthly basis, she
said Tuesday, adding that
she probably should have
demanded a signed lease.
Fassler didn’t return
a call Tuesday to a home
telephone number.
The building at 281-83
Main St. has a total assessed
value of $147,600,
according to Otsego County
property tax records.
To move to a site without
a kitchen could cost $50,000
or more for renovations,
and Doyle said she isn’t
sure at age 62 which option
to choose. Doyle’s business
previously was located on
Chestnut Street downtown.
On Tuesday, she checked
the site of the former Tex-
Mex restaurant at Clinton
Plaza. Bella Pockets has a
kitchen but it doesn’t face
Main Street.
``I want to do what’s right
for everyone,’’ Doyle said.
House, housing rehabilitation
specialist for
the city, said downtown
Oneonta only has a few options
to meet Doyle’s situation.
However, the mayor
and other city officials are
``trying to help in any way
we can,’’ House said, and
would entertain a loan application
based on Doyle’s
reputation and the longevity
of her business.
A restaurant attracts
foot traffic that benefits
retailers, House said, and
Elena’s Sweet Indulgence
has developed a niche of
offering high-quality food
and service.
``Elena’s adds class to
the Oneonta area,’’ said
House, who earlier Tuesday
had spoken with Doyle
in her kitchen.
Several customers
agreed if Doyle had to
close, Oneonta’s Main
Street would lose.
``It’s a classy little
place,’’ said Martin Krivin,
a musician and painter, of
Oneonta.
``It’s part of the Oneonta
culture,’’ added his wife,
JoAnn Krivin, a photographer,
as they sat at a table
near the restaurant’s window
to Main Street.
Dan Birnbaum, of Delhi,
said he often stops at Elena’s
on his way to work at
his Damascene Book Cellar.
The food is excellent,
the atmosphere is pleasant
and the staff is friendly, he
said Tuesday.
``I always enjoy coming
in here,’’ he said. ``I’m trying
to support her as much
as possible.’
