Erie News Now got an update and a sneak peek inside the biggest current projects of the Erie Downtown Development Corporation.
The next project to open will be a restaurant in the historic Cashier's House on State Street which briefly served as the EDDC headquarters.
The original plan called for a fine dining Italian restaurant concept, which would have opened in September. The chef behind that project moved on, but the EDDC moved forward too finding another chef and team to step in. "Our board has told us to push through with these projects and that's why we were able to get this done. We were fortunate to find a great chef team which we're excited to make an announcement about in the next few weeks," EDDC CEO John Persinger said. "We're really excited to get people into this building. It's an historic building right on our main street and that's why we're excited to open these doors."
According to Persinger, the chef plans an American cuisine menu with steaks, seafood and pasta and should be open by the holidays serving dinners on weekends, and lunch and breakfast options during the week.
A brand new modern kitchen is installed already at the back of the building, and the two front rooms, which will become sit-down dining spaces, have new lighting and a new rich paint color on the walls.
Persinger said the space will be perfect for private events and parties as well. He said the concept will compliment the dining options at Flagship City Food Hall.
Across the street, Erie News Now took a walk through where Ascend Climbing Gym will open its four story climbing wall and other attractions early in the first quarter of next year.
The business will take up nearly half of the new building under construction at 5th and State Street, with other climbing walls, bouldering climbs, a yoga studio and other gym amenities. Persinger said it will be the only facility of its kind between Cleveland, Buffalo, Erie and Pittsburgh, making it a real destination for climbers and families. And because the hand and foot holds on the climbing attractions will be changed regularly, climbers will find new challenges each time the visit.
The new building will also have 310 parking spaces, and 30 new apartments on the upper floors. Persinger said the demand for the new downtown living options EDDC is creating is high. They have a waiting list of about 100 names.
The Brig Cigar Lounge project announced earlier this year in the Bonnell Building on State Street will not be opening as soon as expected. It was to open this fall, but is pushed back likely to February, as the business, contractors and city officials work through HVAC construction needs to properly handle the cigar smoke.