The former Clubhouse Restaurant, located on the St. Bonaventure golf course, will soon be demolished.
Aramark, St. Bonaventure University’s contracted food service provider, agreed to pay for the demolition of the restaurant and the cost of a new structure.
The university released plans that include a 2,000-square-foot, indoor-outdoor pavilion, with a kitchen and bar, built on the site of the former restaurant. The plans also include an exterior patio overlooking campus that will be connected to the pavilion.
The agreement between Aramark and the university came during negotiations for a new food-service contract. The total cost of demolition and construction is part of a larger project to also renovate Francis Café and Doyle Hall.
“The entire bill is being paid for by Aramark, part of the company’s commitment to improving food-service facilities on campus,” said Dan Hungerford, vice president for Finance and Administration.
The Clubhouse Restaurant was set to close for the winter in November 2017, with plans to reopen in April 2018.
However, the building needed significant upgrades to the boiler, heating, ventilation, plumbing and air conditioning before it could re-open. The university and Aramark agreed the cost wasn’t worth the investment. The building has stood vacant ever since.
According to Hungerford, asbestos abatement has begun and demolition is expected to begin within the next two weeks. Local contractor Duggan & Duggan has been awarded the contract for the project.
Some foundational construction could begin this fall after demolition is completed. The new pavilion has an anticipated completion of late spring or early summer 2020.
Aramark will be the food and alcohol provider for the building.
Additional upgrades to the golf course will include a small pond in front of the third green, which the university says will make the approach shot to the green much more challenging. Also, the ditch on hole No. 5 is being widened significantly.
By Sean Mickey, Sports Assignment Editor
mickeys17@bonaventure.edu
