Burned-down eatery reborn as The Phoenix

HARRISVILLE — Out of the ashes of a burned-down eatery on Lake Bonaparte's southeastern shore has arisen The Phoenix.

The Phoenix bar and restaurant, that is.

"It's been quite an experience," Gary H. Manford said at his new, log-cabin-style establishment.

On the morning of Dec. 20, 2005, the bar and restaurant at Mr. Manford's Van Heuvel II Marina, 14353 Hermitage Road, was destroyed by fire, as was a nearby, two-bedroom cabin. Lewis County fire officials ruled out natural causes but were unable to determine that it was the work of an arsonist.

Mr. Manford, who spends winters in Sarasota, Fla., working as a sous chef at a country club, had to return to the area to assess the damage and decide what to do next.

While he was able to reopen his marina and adjacent campgrounds the following spring, rebuilding of the bar and restaurant didn't begin until May 2007 and concluded earlier this year.

Thanks primarily to word-of-mouth advertising, the bar reopened June 21 to a packed house, Mr. Manford said. "That night was a tremendous night," he said. "We were alternating three bartenders."

The Phoenix on July 1 began offering dinners, including steaks, seafood and pasta dishes. It is open at noon Tuesday through Sunday, with closing time at 11 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and at 2 a.m. over the weekend.

"The most popular word when you first come in is 'Wow,'" Mr. Manford said.

The log cabin style was chosen not only to impress patrons but so that it eventually could be used as a home, if Mr. Manford ever decided to sell it, he said.

Outdoor patio dining also is available, and there is easy access by both land and water. "You just pull up to the docks and come in," Mr. Manford said.

The idea for the restaurant's new name — a reference to the mythical bird that dies in flames and is reborn from the ashes — came up during construction.

"As we were laying the logs, you could see it was going to turn out special," Mr. Manford said. "And we wanted a special name."

While Natural Bridge contractors did most of the structural work on the new building, Mr. Manford's twin brother, Jerry E., did much of the interior work and is now working at the restaurant, while a friend, Floyd Drake, handled much of the plumbing work. To help with the project, Jerry Manford retired from a job at Home Depot in Arizona, while Mr. Drake retired from a plumbing job at Fort Drum.

Other friends and lake residents also helped with the project or donated items that are now part of the restaurant's decor, Mr. Manford said. "It was kind of a community effort," he said. "Thank goodness for good friends and family."

A man from the state of Washington who Mr. Manford didn't know also made a contribution.

The man, a friend of a camper here, had a badly burned bar stool from the rubble flown to Washington for refurbishing, then flown back for use in the new establishment, Mr. Manford said. It now sits in a corner near the bar with a label denoting it as "Gary's seat."

Mr. Manford, a Heuvelton native, has operated the marina for 24 years.

"I just fell in love with the lake," he said. "And the people are great people."