Dale Steffen and a crew of helpers are hard at work remodeling the Kendall Inn in Kendall. The inn was a popular gathering spot and Steffen says he hopes to have it re-open by Memorial Day. Photo by Robbi Hess.

The Kendall Inn, a fixture in the community, is having fresh life breathed into it by new owner Dale Steffen.

Steffen, a 12-year employee of SUNY College in Brockport, said he had always dreamed of owning a bar but imagined that dream materializing following his retirement. "I didn't really plan to buy a bar at this point in my life … but the opportunity came up and the price was right," he said.

Since its construction in 1897, the Inn has been a part of Kendall. An addition was completed in 1903. While building still has 10-12 rooms up above the main bar area, Steffen said he will be turning them into one large apartment and storage space.

"There is a bowling alley in the addition but we are planning to remove it to incorporate banquet facilities," Steffen said.

Steffen, and a core crew of friends and family, have been working on a complete remodel of the building since he purchased it at an auction last August. He envisions a bar/restaurant with a historic appeal that will boast both a sports and a family atmosphere.

"We have taken everything out, the walls, ceilings and the windows," he said. "We changed the whole interior but are planning to keep an authentic, historic look for the place."

Steffen plans to offer a family-type environment with nightly dinner specials including Friday night fish fries. In the proposed banquet area he hopes to entice individuals to host weddings, family and company events.

Steffen has bartended in the past and will be learning to help with the cooking.

"I think this business will go over very well here," he said. "It won't be a rowdy crowd."

Town of Kendall Supervisor John Becker said he was excited that Steffen had undertaken the task of restoring the Inn. "This is a good thing for our community," Becker said. "It's great when someone takes an existing business and pumps new life into it."

Becker said the building had never truly been vacant. When the previous owner died, he said the man's widow put the building and its contents up for auction. "This is definitely a positive for Kendall," Becker said. "It will be nice to have a family restaurant for people to go to."

The Kendall Inn is scheduled to re-open in time for Memorial Day.