By Jill Nagy
Residents of the Springs, an apartment
development on Weibel Avenue in Saratoga
Springs, will soon be able to have pizza delivered
to the door quickly from the BWP Local
Grille, which is located right on site of the
apartment complex.
The restaurant and bar is operated by Tim
and Colleen Holmes, owners of the Wheatfields
restaurants in Saratoga Springs and
Clifton Park.
The Springs, when complete, will combine
300 residential units with commercial space.
The Grille, expected to open by the end of
September, will offer craft beers, boutique
wines, New York distilled spirits, and an
American menu featuring pizza baked in a
900 degree wood-fired oven. An open kitchen
will surround the fireplace.
Tim Holmes envisions a neighborhood bar
and grille, catering to residents of The Springs
and people from a radius of about five miles.
The new establishment will seat between
50 and 80 people inside and another 30 or so
on a patio with fire pit.
“It’s a different concept for us,” he said, in
comparison to the Wheatfields eateries.
They will serve lunch and dinner and offer
take-out but pizza will be the featured
food item. In fact, the restaurant’s website
is beerwinepizza.com. The bar will offer 13
draft beers, including local and craft beers;
wine, mostly from small-batch producers;
and “small American spirits” from New York
state distilleries.
Bonacio Construction, developer of The
Springs, did the build-out for the Grille. M&T
Bank provided financing.
The Holmeses will be tenants, occupying 3,800 square feet.
So far, neighboring commercial establishments
include a dry cleaner, nail salon, day
care center, martial arts school, and a barber
shop.
Tim and Colleen Holmes will manage the
new location as well as both Wheatfields locations.
Jeff Taylor, who has been with the company
for five years, will be general manager of
the new location. Michael Kiernan, executive
chef for all of the restaurants, is developing
the menu. David Deniro will have charge of
the pizza oven.
Wheatfields Restaurant and Bar has been
on Broadway in Saratoga Springs for 10 and a
half years–“eleven track seasons,” according
to Tim Holmes. They opened the Wheatfields
Bistro and Wine Bar in Clifton Park five years
ago.