Nov. 14—NEWFANE — A longtime local favorite seasonal food stand will be adding a new location further east along the Lake Ontario shoreline next year.
Wilson-based Brownie's Custard Stand plans to expand operations to Olcott with a second location at the town-owned Lakeview Village Shoppes. It'll occupy the bright pink building that formerly housed Oscar's Doghouse and Ice Cream.
Gina Guido-Redden, head of the Newfane Tourism Advisory Board, laid out the plans for Brownie's expansion to the town board at last month's work session.
She said that with the departure of Oscar's from Lakeview Village Shoppes, members of the advisory board began to brainstorm other local eateries to help fill the void.
"I decided to target professional, established businesses so that we can start to get a more consistent presence down there," Guido-Redden said.
That search quickly led to Brownie's. While owners Eileen Neisen and Greg Stennis hadn't been seeking out expansion, they figured it could be a worthwhile endeavor.
"There is a lot of potential there," Stennis said. "Olcott and Newfane just seem to be on top of their tourism game."
Stennis and Neisen have requested a facelift for Brownie's Olcott location.
"The biggest thing is to build out the interior so that it flows properly. I think the big problem that I saw (last summer) was it just didn't flow for the employees. Customers would order at one window and then somebody handed ice cream cones out a door," Stennis said.
They asked for a new window facing Ontario Street for customers to place their orders.
"It's a big deal for us to do that, because people will know that you're open. Right now there's nothing on the roadside," Neisen said.
Renovations to whip the building back into shape for its projected May 1 opening date are estimated to cost the town approximately $32,000, according to Guido-Redden.
The business owners and town officials both hope the new Brownie's location will appeal to visitors and residents alike and provide a boost to the rest of the shops.
"Olcott is appealing to tourists, but we also want to be a part of the community," Neisen said.
"We're investing into (the shops) and to hook into a name like Brownies as a major anchor... is a good investment," town supervisor John Syracuse observed.