
During the day it serves as a quick option for golfers or a place for businessmen/businesswomen seeking lunch. Mulligans offers two different dining options. The boxcar has been restored and is now known as The Silo's Ice Cream Caboose, featuring a weekly custom custard, and housing over 40 flavors of ice cream!Īlthough The Silo remains a landmark, having observed the changing of the landscape of the Lewiston waterfront for nearly 100 years, it is now a thriving restaurant serving thousands of patrons from all over the world each week! Like The Silo itself, the restaurant has evolved over time and is now serving up a fantastic variety of high quality menu items that are in tune with the ever changing tastes of its patrons.The restaurant features a 35+ foot bar, 3 flat screen TVs a 70in TV in the dining area, keg beer, a huge inventory of beer and liquor, as well as outstanding food. Alan Hastings saw both a great opportunity to recycle and preserve a piece of historical significance with the old box car and he knew it had to join The Silo as a "piece of history, allowing visitors to remember the waterfront as it once was". In 2010 Alan Hastings set sights on an old run down retired train caboose. Originally built in 1890 as a old wooden boxcar for The Canadian National Railroad, it was then converted into a caboose in the 30's having said to have derailed in the 70's.
#SILO RESTAURANT FREE#
He created tables, seating and countertops from recycled church pews and has selected “Greenware” - plant based cups, lids and utensils, and is even using the grease from his fryer's to power a fleet of gas free vehicles known as "Veggie cars". Alan Hastings set forth in the genuine spirit of an environmentalist and sought out ways to re-use and recycle items to outfit the restaurant. "The Silo Restaurant" opened its doors in April of 1998 and 30 days later Richard Hastings handed the keys over to his son Alan believing he had the energy and foresight to take the refreshment stand to new heights. The view of the river from this vantage point was and still is spectacular!

Encouraged by Mayor Richard Soluri and using his own funds, he devised a plan which included building a platform which encircled the entire structure to create seating for his customers. Richard Hastings of Youngstown approached the Village of Lewiston trustees with a vision to convert the silo into a refreshment stand. The answer came in the Spring of 1997 when Mr. Suggestions ranged from tearing it down to putting in a bait shop, or turning it into an observation platform. A constant query was what should be done with "The Silo" that had once supplied the steamers with fuel and protected the homes and people of the river bank. Through the efforts of several municipalities the river was cleaned and cleared and began to attract fishermen from all over the northeastern United States.Īlthough the waterfront was once again breathing new life and new energy the old coal silo still sat empty.


The village trustees purchased the land and opened it up to fishing, and a launch was put into place. The old silo had a moment of glory during the winter of 1955 when it held back the huge ice jam that threatened to destroy homes along the river bank, then continued sitting quietly until In 1978 when a rebirth began. An ice jam destroyed the terminal and The Silo sat alone, baring witness to the piling of sand dredged from the river bottom and the quiet sounds of pigeons roosting in the top of the decaying superstructure . Sadly, with the demise of the Great Gorge Railway in 1938, the construction of a superhighway to Toronto, and excessive pollution strangling the river, the waterfront activity declined. The waterfront became a hub of great activity, and locals set up stands to sell souvenirs and novelty items to visitors. Our story begins in the 1930’s, back when this area was referred to as the ”Hojack Country.” The waterfront was bustling and alive with tourists visiting by the thousands, traveling the Great Gorge Railway. The Lewiston Silo was home to the coal that fueled these steamers, and played an important role in housing the fuel that kept the waterfront alive. The Silo Restaurant- History Never Tasted So Good!
