©2016 Saratoga Photographer.com
By Maureen Werther
Dunning Street Station Bar & Grill, located at 2853 Route 9 in Malta, celebrated its grand opening June 29th with a well-attended ribbon-cutting ceremony sponsored by the Chamber of Southern Saratoga County.
Owners Bob McKenna and Scott Ringwood, who is also the chef, hope to continue the tradition of great food and drink that people have long associated with the iconic silver and blue Fodoro dining car. Ringwood is also co-owner, with McKenna, of the Lake Ridge Restaurant in Round Lake.
“Over the years, Scott and I have always talked about fun places and food that we’ve enjoyed in a casual setting,” said McKenna.
Gradually, the conversations became more serious and the partners began formulating a plan for another restaurant that would offer quality food and service like Lake Ridge, but in a more relaxed setting and with a more casual menu.
They began searching for a location and started looking into the “silver magnet out there on Route 9, just waiting to be restored to its former glamor and cool,” said McKenna.
As they delved deeper into the history of the property, they discovered that Route 9 was originally known as “Dunning Street,” named after the founder of Malta, Michael Dunning. Just like that, McKenna and Ringwood had the name for the new restaurant.
The Station, as it is referred to by owners and staff, follows in the footsteps of some well-known eateries at this location. The first business opened there in the early 1950s, when Constantinos (Gus) Dardas bought the house that was situated on the property at the time. He turned it into the Malta Ridge Diner.
