Lease Deal Sign for Ice House Site

The city has signed a lease agreement with ESS Hospitality to operate the former Ice House site at Waryas Park, which has previously served as an anchor restaurant on the city's most active waterfront park.

Melanie Lemieux, owner and co-founder of ESS Hospitality, will open a gastropub called "The Governess," that will feature a variety of American Cuisine. ESS already has two established restaurants - "The Baroness" and "The Huntress," both in Queens. These establishments have a strong following, and ESS Hospitality has ambitious plans to tie their new Poughkeepsie location to many waterfront events.

Waryas Park is located at the foot of Main Street and adjacent to the Poughkeepsie Train Station, just off of the Main Street exit from Route 9.

The park sits on more than eight acres, offers daily activities including a children's playground and skate park and hosts several big annual festivals. It also has grills and picnic tables, fishing access, a deep water pier, and boat docking and launch, among other amenities.

The park is also adjacent to the Discovery Museum and is within walking distance of an elevator that takes people to and from the Walkway over the Hudson, which attracts more than 600,000 visitors annually.

"This location is a premier spot in our city, right on the waterfront and between the Mid-Hudson Bridge and Walkway Over the Hudson," said Mayor Yvonne Flowers. "It's such a wonderful setting, and the city needs a vibrant operator to create a destination-quality venue that caters to all residents. We believe we have found that with ESS Hospitality."

Since the early 2000s, the Ice House has been leased for commercial use, initially offering concessions and eventually a full-scale restaurant beginning in 2012.

Mayor Flowers said when selecting an operator, the city put a premium on a business that has plans to include their service with the many events that take place on the waterfront.

Lemieux said, "Our goal is to transform Waryas Park into a prime waterfront destination for both the community and commuters. We are excited to bring our decades of experience in hospitality and show business to the waterfront, to create a yearlong experience of activities and festivities. We are looking forward to welcoming you to The Governess."

The mayor said the new business also will incorporate how it intends to keep public access along the promenade undisturbed, keeping in mind that the restaurant has to fit in with the bigger picture of what our waterfront has to offer.

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