Potsdam restaurant closing, up for sale

POTSDAM — Thomas M. DeRosa has decided to close Sandstone Grill at the end of the month and put the business up for sale.

The SeaComm Plaza restaurant opened two years ago and employs 10 people. The steakhouse and family restaurant offered a large salad bar and a private dining room.

"Even in a recession, we've been OK. Business has been decent. I just decided not to renew the lease because it's a good time not to renew it," Mr. DeRosa said. "I decided to do it truly because I wanted to spend more time with my family."

The Sandstone Grill did well enough that Mr. DeRosa has been able to pay back all of his loans and bills for starting the business.

"There's not a single cent that's not paid for," he said. "It's not a negative that we're closing. It has been a real nice two years. We're closing at the top of our game."

Mr. DeRosa plans to close the restaurant quietly July 31 and list it for sale for $23,000. If no one is interested in a month, he said, he will sell off his equipment.

Sandstone Grill replaced the Great Wall Chinese Buffet, which closed in August 2007 after three years of business. The restaurant has a 1,000-square-foot kitchen and seats 180.

Potsdam Rotary Club is seeking a different location for its Wednesday meetings, which it held at both Sandstone Grill and Great Wall.

Sandstone manager Molly Tennis plans to go back to college to become a pharmacist, Mr. DeRosa said. Of the remaining employees, he said, he will transfer three or four to First Crush Wine Bar, his 23 Market St. restaurant. He has helped several more find different employment.

Gift certificates from the Sandstone Grill will be redeemable at First Crush.

"The Crush is going to be there forever. It's just that a second restaurant takes a lot of time and quality of life is significantly more important to me," Mr. DeRosa said.

He is concentrating on teaching an entrepreneurship class at Clarkson University's School of Business, and seeking a full-time job.