Demolition Prep Underway for Iconic Endicott Restaurant Building

Plans are being finalized for the removal of a building that's been home to a series of popular restaurants in West Endicott.

The Broome County Land Bank acquired the West Main Street property near the En-Joie Golf Club in the town of Union. It most recently was home to Food Fusion Bar and Grill.

The building is located just east of the old Red Carpet Inn, which also had been purchased by the Land Bank. The vacant hotel was torn down about a year ago.

Asbestos removal is scheduled to start soon in the abandoned restaurant building. Notices posted on the structure indicate that work will start on June 12. The job will be performed by Sunstream Corporation of Binghamton.

Land Bank executive director Jessica Haas said she expects demolition of the building will occur shortly after the Dick's Sporting Goods Open tournament, which will be held in early July.

Haas told WNBF News the structure likely will be torn down in late July or early August.

The Land Bank paid $325,000 when it acquired the property at 737 West Main Street from Iliya Honovich of Johnson City last January.

Honovich and his wife opened Food Fusion in 2016. Russell's Steak & Seafood House had previously operated at the site for more than a decade. Prior to that, the place was home to the Red Lion restaurant.

The Land Bank plans to seek development proposals for the entire West Main Street site where the hotel and restaurant buildings had been located.

Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com or call (607) 545-2250. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.