(Credit: Courtesy Brookside Museum)
It's official: Longfellows will close, be sold and re-opened
From a press release: The owners of Longfellows, the local restaurant, hotel and conference center at 500 Union Ave., Saratoga Springs, have decided to close their business. Partners Steve and Yvonne Sullivan along with David Powers have determined it’s time for someone else to take their property to the next level.
They will continue to own and operate their second restaurant, the Olde Bryan Inn, located at 123 Maple Avenue, Saratoga Springs.
The announcement was officially made Thursday Nov. 3 that they will close the doors on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023. [Other news outlets had the story earlier in the week, after Longfellows filed paperwork with the state. Read more here.]
“After almost 50 years in hospitality, it’s time to step back,” said Steve “Sully” Sullivan, co-owner of the 9.5 acre property. “A few weeks ago an offer was accepted from a group of investors/operators to purchase the Longfellows property. I believe Longfellows is in good hands. Going forward, we plan to continue to own and operate the Olde Bryan Inn for many years to come.”
When they first opened Longfellows Restaurant in May of 1997, the Sullivans and Mr. Powers recognized the former dairy barn to have ‘great bones’ that they hoped to simply embellish. In 1998 they built the Longfellows Hotel, which added 18 rooms to the existing building. In 2003 they added another building with 32 additional rooms as well as a conference center.
Over the 26 years in business, Longfellows has accommodated thousands of hotel guests and hosted over 2400 weddings and countless catering events.
"Finish the Job” Campaign for Brookside Museum Launched
From a press release: The Saratoga County History Center at Ballston Spa's Brookside Museum has launched its Annual Appeal, "Finish the Job," with the objective of complete stabilization of the historic building in the coming year. The goal of the current phase, $45,000, will fund energy efficiency and long-postponed repair of space required for museum operations and care of its important collections. Two friends of the museum have pledged $15,000 to match an equal sum from the community.
Last year's "Preserve the Porch" campaign exceeded its goal by more than $10,000. The top-quality restoration work of the porch is now underway and will be finished by year's end.
"Finish the Job" will make the museum's most economical operation possible. Its storm windows are 70 years old and do little to keep out the weather. Replacement with modern, efficient storms is planned before midwinter. New interior and exterior lighting, for the comfort of museum visitors and to reduce energy consumption, will use LED technology. An area of the building damaged many years ago by a leaking roof was to be gutted and converted to badly-needed storage. Finally, since most of the museum's galleries have been renovated, only two floors must be repaired and refurbished.
All gifts will be acknowledged with gratitude and donors will be counted as 2023 members. Contributions can be submitted through the www.brooksidemuseum.org link or by mail to SCHS, 21 Fairground Avenue, Ballston Spa, N.Y. 12020.