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Oliver's Restaurant executive chef Ross Warhol made the announcement on Facebook: He has plans to open his own restaurant in his hometown of Hamburg after 15 years of training and service in the industry.
Warhol has chosen a former landscaping business directly next to the Water Valley Inn at 6666 Gowanda State Road in Hamburg for his restaurant. In his Facebook post, he said his dreams include living above his own restaurant and having a garden on-site from which he can source ingredients.
"I still have a lot of work ahead of me, but I look forward to having you all celebrate with me at my opening," Warhol wrote.
Canfield's Landscaping used to own and operate out of the site, which includes a building with a front sunroom and a greenhouse, as well as several parking and lawn areas.
Warhol nor Oliver's immediately responded to The Sun's request for comment.
Town of Hamburg Planner Sarah desJardins told The Sun she hasn't heard yet from Warhol about the site. However, the site is zoned correctly for food service, desJardins said. But Warhol may need to apply for specific variances to serve alcohol, she added.
Oliver's on Delaware Avenue in Buffalo is often regarded as one of the most celebrated fine-dining restaurants in Western New York, with Warhol often working as the mastermind behind the restaurant's experimental dishes. Warhol thanked Oliver's owner David Schutte for his support in his Facebook post.
Mickey Tomasello, whose family has owned and operated the Water Valley Inn next door for 31 years, told The Sun he welcomes his new neighbor.
"It's a very ambitious undertaking," Tomasello said. "Competition is always good."
Tomasello said the Water Valley Inn had originally put in an offer to buy the property so they could extend their parking area, but their offer was too low.
-By Francesca Bond, Staff Reporter
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