The new owners of Richardson’s Canal House plan to reopen the restaurant next year and add to the guest experience by activating the waterfront along the Erie Canal.
Developers Dennis Wilmot and Jim Barbato joined forces on the purchase of Bushnell’s Basin landmark in January and intend to launch a new restaurant by late spring or early summer.
“It’s an exciting project for us,” Barbato said. “It’s really a cool piece on the canal that I think is going to do very well.”
The historic property at 1474 Marsh Rd. was once a tavern that catered to Erie Canal travelers in the early 1800s. It has been a restaurant for the past five decades but closed in September of 2025.
Barbato said discussions with a new restaurant operator and being finalized and structural and interior renovation will soon commence.
“If you drive by enough, you can see that roof isn’t very straight on top so we’re working with a structural engineer,” he said. “Aesthetically on the inside we have a lot to do with the flooring and painting and cosmetic stuff.”
Because of structure is more than 200 years old, there’s limits to what changes can be made without approvals.
They’re also working with the New York State Canal Corp. to determine if the foundation of former trolley bridge can be moved, enabling upgrades to the waterfront.
“There was a trolley that ran from downtown Rochester to Geneva from 1903-1935,” Barbato said. “It used to do 50-55 mph and it was a way for people to get from Rochester to Geneva, with stops along the Finger Lakes. That went away once people had the convenience of cars.
“We’re working on removing it and we want to make some improvements along the waterfront with docks and kind of cool water features to really bring the canal component to life.”
They also purchased the adjacent Binder’s Building and Cottage, which house office space, and the old Oliver Loud House, which serves as a short-term rental property and also has an apartment.
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Dining and Cooking