Archive: Business & Technology

Wildfire-An American Bistro, represents the latest downtown Ithaca business expansion by local entrepreneurs who already own and operate a successful business in the city’s urban core.

Wildfire, An American Bistro, is owned by Teresa and Scott Miller, and will be located at 106 South Cayuga Street. The Millers plan to open Wildfire in early September with a menu that features a down to earth American cuisine, no fuss service, and décor that reflects the elemental name of the establishment… Wildfire.

The Millers are also the owners of Madeline’s, which is located at 215 The Commons in downtown Ithaca.

106 South Cayuga Street currently houses The Lost Dog Café, which will be closing in the near future, so its operators can focus on plans to open the Bandwagon Microbrewery in downtown Ithaca, and on their original Lost Dog Café location, which is in Binghamton. The Millers are taking ownership of the building and were awarded a loan from Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency earlier this week, to help finance the project. The funds will be used to help purchase the building and the equipment inside it. The IURA loan is also the final piece of financing needed by the Millers to make the Wildfire project happen. Other funding sources for it include the Tompkins Trust Company and the Miller’s own equity.

Wildfire and Madeline’s co-owner Scott Miller says, “We’re grateful to the owners of the Lost Dog Café, who’ve also been friends of ours for years, for working with us to help make this project happen. It not only allows us to expand, but results in the establishment of a new business in downtown with the Bandwagon Microbrewery, and most importantly, preserves jobs and creates new ones. We also appreciate the support of the Tompkins Trust Company and the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency, and their commitment to helping local businesses grow and expand.”

Miller says Wildfire will employ the equivalent of 24 full-time workers. Employees of the Lost Dog Café have already been notified of the upcoming changes and have been offered positions at Wildfire. Members of the public interested in applying for positions at Wildfire should stop by Madeline’s, at 215 The Commons, to fill out an application.

The lounge located on the 2nd floor of the building will continue to remain in operation, according to the Millers, who says they plan to offer dining in the lounge, as well.

Downtown Ithaca Alliance Executive Director Gary Ferguson says, “Teresa and Scott’s  decision to open a second business in our downtown is a prime example of the opportunity that exists in downtown Ithaca for independent entrepreneurs. Wildfire -An American Bistro will help bring additional foot traffic to Cayuga Street, benefitting other shops in the area. By occupying a prime downtown storefront, the Millers are helping to retain and build the vibrancy of downtown, keeping jobs and bringing new energy to  Cayuga Street.”

Renovations to convert the Lost Dog Café into Wildfire-An American Bistro are expected to begin in early August.

----
v5i30