Restaurant to Open in Binghamton’s Downtown Train Station

A Binghamton developer is hoping a new restaurant in the historic Lackawanna Train Station will be in operation by the end of summer.

Mark Yonaty said the establishment on Lewis Street will be called Station 45 American Chop House.

Yonaty has owned the old railroad station property just west of the city's baseball stadium for nearly a decade.

Last year, workers began clearing out the original ticketing and waiting room area of the station as part of Yonaty's plan to open the restaurant. Cleaning and renovations also were made to the tower on the west end of the property near Chenango Street.

The original tin ceiling above the waiting area has been restored. A construction permit for the major construction project was approved in February. Crews have been busy inside and outside the train station over the past few weeks.

A wrought iron fence has been erected along a newly-installed concrete patio that will serve as an outdoor dining area.

Brick pavers also have been painstakingly put back in place near the patio.

The train station, which was constructed in 1900, has been designated a historic landmark by the Binghamton Commission on Architecture and Urban Design.

Yonaty said he is trying to maintain as much of the historical integrity of the structure as possible.

While a late summer or early fall opening of the restaurant is his goal, Yonaty acknowledges the start-up of operations likely will depend on the timely delivery of equipment.

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.