Eatery May Open at Site of Binghamton Dollar Store

A restaurant and bar are expected to replace a Family Dollar store that lost its lease at a prime spot in downtown Binghamton.

The store, which operated at 60 Court Street for several years, closed over the weekend.

Other downtown business operators have been told that plans call for a Mexican restaurant and bar in the space that had been occupied by the store.

Yaron Kweller purchased the property from Binghamton Mayor Richard David.

County property records show the sale price of the property was $1,230,000 in a deal that closed on January 16. About six years earlier, the site sold for $655,000.

Kweller has declined to say what will be happening to the 10,000 square feet of space available on the first floor of the building. But other business owners have been advised that a restaurant and bar likely will open there.

All of the merchandise and fixtures from the Family Dollar store were removed from the property over the weekend. On Monday morning, workers took down the large exterior signs on the Court Street and State Street sides of the building.

Kweller in December received city approval to put three dwelling units with 19 bedrooms above where the store had been located. Work on the apartment project started in January.

Kweller also has plans to develop a multi-unit project about a block away. He intends to transform the Ellis Brothers furniture store building at 159 Washington Street into a residential complex. The property is expected to contain 13 units with a total of 58 bedrooms.

Kweller did not return a call seeking comment on Monday.

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