“As we’re examining the city, we’re trying to find out what’s missing, so that people don’t have to go out of Hamilton to find it,” Riley said.
The Rileys have owned Riley’s Restaurant in Springdale since 1981, and their son James bought the Walt’s Barbeque restaurants in Hamilton and Cincinnati last July. The family also operates the Vineyard Café inside the Vineyard Community Church.
They jumped at the chance to open a restaurant in the business district as soon as the building became available.
“I have driven by this building for many years and have always thought it was a neat, inviting place,” Riley said in a press release on Monday.
Riverbank Café closed its doors this past July after six years in business and several awards under its belt. Owner Dennis Kurlas cited personal and business issues as factors in its closing.
The building’s leasing broker, John Stretch, felt that the combination of a highly trafficked location and accomplished local restaurateurs like the Rileys would result in a winning new restaurant for Hamilton.
“With their vision for this particular location, the owners felt the Riley family was a great fit,” he said.
The property owner, Suellen Stretch, was excited about housing a family-owned business and confident about impending success.
“It’s an exciting addition to Main St., Hamilton, and the surrounding communities,” she said.
While Riley explained that acquiring so many restaurants in such a short time frame wasn’t planned, he valued the opportunities they present.
“These are opportunities for good people to climb the ladder,” he said. “And when there are good opportunities, you go out and grab them.”
As a key corner in Hamilton’s Main Street business district, the new restaurant joins other urban building efforts the city has conducted as part of a downtown revitalization effort. The Hamilton CORE Fund is directing these efforts by bringing businesses to the German Village, Rossville, the 2nd Ward, and others. Executive director Mike Dingeldein looks forward to the new addition both as a Rossville resident and as a member of the CORE Fund.
“A quality restaurant can have a catalytic impact on the vibrancy of our downtown core,” he said. “I can’t wait to help support this new venture as a walkable destination within our neighborhood.”
The restaurant is expected to open its doors in June or July.
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