After nearly a decade of delays and false starts, the Crescent Beach Restaurant is finally on track to make a comeback. “This time it’s for real,” said Greece Town Supervisor Bill Reilich. “We’ve been in talks with a competent and successful restaurant operator who has now secured the property, and she means business.”
Local restauranteur Katherine Mott-Formicola, a Greece native known for venues such as Monroe’s Restaurant in Pittsford, The Wintergarden by Monroe’s in Downtown Rochester, The Divinity Estate and Chapel across from Highland Park, and her newest venture Rare 3001, a high-end steakhouse located in the lower level of Monroe’s on Monroe Avenue set to open in December 2023, recently closed on the Crescent Beach property. She plans to complete the long-stalled renovations and anticipates reopening the iconic Greece establishment in May of next year. Mott-Formicola intends to infuse the beloved iconic Greece landmark with the high standards, delicious menu and amazing service for which she is known.
“I am delighted to be back in Greece and so excited at the prospect of returning Crescent Beach to a destination restaurant and venue” said Kathy. “I’m especially excited to celebrate the holidays at Crescent Beach and bring back customer favorites, such as Sunday Brunch and all you can eat seafood and prime rib!”
Kathy and her team are ready for this project. “Our sleeves are rolled up and we’ve hit the ground running to be ready for our Spring Grand Opening,” she said enthusiastically. “I feel truly honored to head up this nostalgic project and write the next chapter in the Crescent Beach story. See you at Crescent Beach in 2024!”
Supervisor Reilich said, “We’re excited to welcome Kathy to Greece’s business community and grateful to have her as a partner in bringing back Crescent Beach. She brings an energy and level of quality that’s exactly what we need to make this successful.” Mott-Formicola also recently took over food, beverage and events at Ridgemont Country Club in Greece.
For almost a decade, Crescent Beach has been owned by an individual in Ontario, Canada. Through a combination of absenteeism, unpaid contractors, and soured investors, renovations stalled for several years and the property has been largely dormant since 2017. Liens had accumulated and property maintenance was a sore spot for the town’s Code Enforcement division and Edgemere Drive neighbors alike. As the Canadian owner became less and less responsive to enforcement, with the support of Supervisor Reilich’s newly formed Economic Development team a different approach and strategy was undertaken, and those intensified efforts helped the owner to clean up the title and market the property. Serious discussions with Mott-Formicola began in the spring of this year and a project team assembled months in advance culminating with the best outcome for the business and in particular, the Greece community.
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