Bayside Pub in Webster May Have a New Place Thanks to Rochester’s ‘Soccer Sam’
When it comes to business, Sam Fantauzzo has never been interested in ideas.
He was 17 years old when he founded Salvatore’s Old Fashioned pizzeria in 1978. It has since grown into a mozzarella cake franchise empire.
Along the way, he revived Delite Donuts, reintroduced the Fish
Now comes the revival of a Webster waterfront staple. Fantauzzo, through Fantauzzo Family Brands Inc. , is in the final stages of negotiations with the City of Webster to open a dining place and bar in Sandbar Park.
And the concepts keep popping up: picnic table delivery, dock delivery, and even water delivery.
“We write all these crazy concepts every day,” Fantauzzo said. “And yes, we’re in a position to meet the bay with our own ship. “
The city is in the process of building a new 2,400-square-foot design on the site where the Bayside Pub once stood. Through a public-private partnership, Fantauzzo Family Brands will sign a licensing agreement to lease the area to the city.
The construction investment will come from a special bond, which the city will receive in full, plus interest, from Fantauzzo Family Brands on a 15-year lease, City Manager Tom Flaherty said.
“If the construction ends up costing $1 million, our contract will have to cover that amount in 15 years,” Fantauzzo said.
The port offers stunning natural scenery. There will be perspectives of Lake Ontario on one side and Irondequoit Bay on the other.
And while you can order a slice, it’s probably not a pizzeria.
“It’ll feel like a casual, fun beach bar,” Fantauzzo said. “We’re going to have the same menu as the other place, but we’ll add a little more seafood and a little more meat. “
The ground floor will space the dining room, the bar and a small interior point, with a giant bar, a patio and a point next to it. There will also be a terrace at the second point with views of the bay and lake.
But the waves and sailors are possibly not the only entertainment. Fantauzzo said he would bring bands and comedies. It also provides fashion shows, car shows, and craft shows.
“It’s out of the ordinary, so we want to think outside the box and figure out how to get other people to come here,” he said. “It’s not on a main road, so it’s kind of ‘out of sight. ‘We have to bring other people here once, and then they’ll come back.
Fantauzzo, also known as “Soccer Sam,” remains a staunch promoter of all things Rochester, though he divides his time between his hometown and Florida. It was during his time in the Sunshine State that the concept of creating a place to eat and drink sank into Sandbar Park.
“I spend a lot of time in Florida and my wife and I move on to a lot of other places and I’ve stolen ideas,” he said.
He shared his visions with Spencer Read and Brad Humberstone at Mitchell Design Build in Victor. They brought it to life and then collaborated with Passero Associates on the design.
In collaboration with Pittsford’s Campus Construction Management Group, plans are being developed to begin painting during the fall, with a possible opening as early as March.
The Bayside Pub was demolished in 2022 as part of the city’s park innovations worth $11. 1 million. Innovations have already been made in the park and flood coverage measures.
From the beginning, the commission envisaged the structure of a new facility to house a bar/restaurant and the city council called a tender two years ago to rent it.
“The original owners (led through Rob Buono) made an offer, so we gave up,” Fantauzzo said. “It’s his step, so we didn’t have to get in the way. But then they withdrew. “
The prices of renting new construction in the city were higher than what would be charged for building privately, Flaherty wrote in his Supervisor’s Corner column in the Webster Herald.
Fantauzzo resubmitted a proposal and the city approved it. While Fantauzzo will clearly be involved in the venture, Kayla Kent Moreira will be the managing partner. She has been with Fantauzzo Family Brands since 2011 and is President of Business Operations.
The name of the place to eat was not chosen. Fantauzzo said that perhaps there will be a contest to choose him. An initial logo was created in white and blue colors and with waves. The colors contrast sharply with Salvatore’s red, yellow, and black, and that was very intentional.
“It’s noticeable that other people think it’s going to be a pizzeria,” Flaherty said at a June 3 town hall meeting, “(but) I don’t think other people perceive the entrepreneurial nature and diversity of this business. “
The dining room and bar will be open all year round.
“For the numbers to work, we want to be open in winter,” Fantauzzo said.
Which, of course, leads to more original ideas, adding the delivery of food and drink to other people who are ice fishing in the bay or lake.
“What we do in the kitchens (of Salvatore restaurants) is very stressful,” Fantauzzo said. “It will be our entertainment and relaxation position. “
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