Collegetown’s Carriage House Café
has closed and the building is for sale
by About four months after announcing that the Carriage House Café property was for sale, the owners have closed the popular business on Stewart Avenue on Ithaca’s east hill. The restaurant’s final day was Saturday, June 20th.
”It’s been an emotional decision but we feel we need to do what’s right for our growing families at this point,” co-owner Aaron Chandler told 14850 Magazine in February.
Just over a month later, the Coronavirus pandemic meant restaurants could no longer serve customers in person, and business ground to a halt. The Carriage House was one of a number of Tompkins County eateries that pivoted to offer takeout and delivery, but Chandler says it wasn’t sustainable. By the time New York State guidelines allowed eateries to reopen outdoor seating and then reduced capacity indoor seating, the Chandler and Woodall families decided to stick with their plan to close, even though there’s no buyer as yet.
“After 16 years of service we never imagined ending this way,” the owners told staff in an e-mail on Monday, which they shared with us a few days later. “However, it has become impossible for us to continue running the business in the current economic state. Our hope is that this building will continue to be used as a special place for the community.”
The meticulously restored 1850s carriage house just a couple of blocks from the Cornell University campus was purchased by the Chandler family at the turn of the century, and then carefully renovated using nearly all original materials. They worked with local builder Bruno Schickel, who’s also known for developing the Boiceville Cottages, and who renovated the building next door that’s now owned by WVBR.
Known for its daily brunch featuring local meats, produce, and coffee, the Carriage House Café had been open Tuesday through Sunday from mid-morning to mid-afternoon, and recently was offering takeout and delivery Wednesday through Saturday.
The iconic Brie Stuffed French Toast from the Carriage House.
The upstairs was gradually renovated over the last several years, and has been a function space, concert space, and most recently, a cocktail lounge called The Loft with its own evening menu featuring charcuterie boards, burgers, flatbreads, and great handmade cocktails.
The Carriage House Burger was always one of the best in town.
Aaron Chandler tells us the family has been working with a broker, and the building will be officially listed for sale in the coming days. Family members have begun clearing out the furnishings and memorabilia that set the tone for the space.
“The cafe’s vision of ‘Comfort. Quality. Service.’ was designed to provide each guest upon leaving with the ultimate hospitality experience,” the Carriage House owners told staff last week, thanking them for helping create that experience. “When they left, they felt fulfilled, relaxed and ready to face the next term paper, work day, exam, busy afternoon or trip ahead of them.”
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