Press Release

Esche to run ex-Kitty's restaurant

5-year contact includes $2,500 monthly rent

July 25, 2007
By Renée Gamela

UTICA — The city will lease its building at the Utica Historic Marina for $2,500 a month to a company operated by National Hockey League player Robert Esche, city officials announced Tuesday.

ED Ventures LLC, which is operated by Esche and business partner Alicia Dicks, will operate Aqua Vino Restaurant & Catering at the facility. The site was occupied by Kitty's on the Canal restaurant from 2002 until June 30.

The city chose not to renew the occupancy agreement with Kitty's on the Canal, whose owners owed back rent and a portion of utility payments to the city. There are no outstanding parties scheduled by Kitty's on the Canal that would have to be picked up by Aqua Vino, officials said.

Esche and Dicks have not signed an occupancy agreement, but the paperwork should be completed in about two weeks, Mayor Tim Julian said. They will be responsible for the monthly rent payment and all utility costs during the 5-year contract.

Aqua Vino will offer seafood and American fare and is expected to open in August. The restaurant will be open seven days a week and will offer lunch, dinner and live entertainment on Friday and Saturday nights, according to the proposal submitted to the city.

Esche could not be reached Tuesday, but Dicks said they hope the restaurant will be "a sophisticated, urban destination for the city of Utica."

"We want to capitalize on the waterfront and re-introduce people to the waterfront, so they can start to utilize it again," she said. "It's a great asset for the region that I think people forget exists."

Seth Heacock, who has more than eight years of managerial experience, will be the facility's general manager, Dicks said.

Esche has been an NHL goalie since 1999 and is looking for a new team to play with since becoming a free agent July 1. The 29-year-old Westmoreland resident, Utica native and former Whitesboro and Notre Dame high school athlete spent four seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers.

Esche is a "Mohawk Valley-grown sports celebrity that has an intense interest in reinvesting in this community," the proposal states.

The group also will make capital investments in the facility including the installation of an elevator with two-sided access, a wine cellar and an outdoor deck overlooking the Marina with enclosed sliding glass walls.

A committee of city officials was put together to select a tenant for the marina from a number of proposals. It was difficult to select one business since so many good ideas were offered, but Aqua Vino had a quality proposal and the willingness to make improvements to the facility, the mayor said.

"Being Robert Esche, who is an NHL player, he could bring in players from other teams or sports celebrities for charitable events and city events, which would be a benefit for the city," Julian said.

Julian said some people in the community might say he awarded the facility to Esche because the two are friends, but many people who submitted proposals also are his friends. That's why a committee was put together to select the best proposal, he said.

"I think the facility will speak for itself," Julian said. "I don't think there'll be a question when it's up and running."