Marcy Casino to open The Terrace @ Delaware Park

A new, year-round, family-friendly restaurant is coming to the historic Marcy Casino.

Mayor Brown and Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy announced The Terrace @ Delaware Park will hold a soft open in early January.

Starting next week, about eight to ten weeks of renovations to the main floor of the casino are expected to take place.

"I look forward to the opening of The Terrace @ Delaware Park,"  said Mayor Brown. "It will provide a unique dining experience and another reason to spend time in Delaware Park every season of the year."

According to Mayor Brown, this new project adds to the nearly $23 million in capital improvements invested in the Olmsted Parks under his administration since 2010 when he partnered with the Conservancy.

Prior structural improvements of the Marcy Casino completed by the City included deck, railing and column reconstruction on the terrace, a new elevator, window replacement and stone work on the exterior of the building.

The Marcy Casino is already used for private functions and is a popular wedding venue. In 2014, a leading brides magazine even named the Rose Garden and the Marcy Casino as one of the top wedding facilities.

The desire to add a restaurant to the Marcy Casino has been a year in the making. Last November, Magnolia Events, the sole vendor responsible for the management and operations of the building, submitted a proposal to the Conservancy to open up the first floor to the public and become a year-round restaurant overlooking Hoyt Lake.

In the last ten months, three public input sessions, a distributed survey to Delaware Park neighbors and an online survey have helped to decide whether or not adding the restaurant would be a good idea. More than 80% of the residents who participated or responded were in favor of the idea.

There is now an agreement in place with specific policies and procedures to help figure out the logistics of the space, including parking, park safety and restaurant hours. According to the contract, The Terrace @ Delaware Park is expected to conclude food and drink orders in time to close by 10 p.m.

Magnolia will be investing in enhancements to make sure the building maintains its historic integrity. It will also include equipment upgrades to the existing kitchen, hardwood floors, interior and exterior lighting, a custom bar, new plumbing and electrical and security cameras.

"We believe The Terrace @ Delaware Park will prove to be a great community and park asset and will fit right in with Olmsted's vision for Delaware Park," said Jason Davidson, managing partner of The Terrace @ Delaware Park. "We're humbled by all the incredible support we've received from the BOPC, the City of Buffalo and the residents of our great city."

The menu will feature hand-carved sandwiches, house-made soups and a children's menu. It will also be designed to be a family-friendly refuge, with hot chocolate for park visitors looking to warm up while enjoying winter park activities.

The summer menu will be a "shared plates" concept with a seasonal farm-table-aspect, just right for summer patio dining and Shakespeare in the Park attendees. Breakfast and brunch services are also being considered.