THREE NEW RESTAURANTS
SETTING UP SHOP IN OSWEGO BY CHRIS WALKER
T
hey’re not rioting in the streets about it, but folks should be super excited that Riot!! Pizza is one of the newest restaurants scheduled to open in Oswego this year.
p THE DAIRY BARN, 121 Main St. Opening summer 2022 q RIOT!! PIZZA, The Reserve at Hudson Crossing (at the corner of Washington and Harrison streets, downtown Oswego) Opening in 2022 q OAK AND BEAN, The Reserve at Hudson Crossing Opening in 2022
Oak and Bean, a wine and coffee bar concept, is also coming to the village along with a trading card shop that will bank on the popularity of Pokémon. “Riot!! Pizza, owned by the same management as Crusade Burger Bar and Sovereign, will be opening this fall with a unique pizza and beer concept,” said Scott McMaster, economic development director for the Village of Oswego. “The setting will be kind of a throwback to the late ’80s and early ’90s.” Rafael Gomez, owner/partner of Riot!! Pizza, calls the new joint a “gothic, punk version of The Max,” which was the popular hangout where Zac Morris schmoozed with his pals in the popular TV show “Saved by the Ball.” “RIOT!! Pizza will be to pizza what Crusade Burger Bar is to burgers,” Gomez said. “It’s a concept we’ve been wanting to do for years now. We were just waiting for the perfect spot. Once we saw The Reserve going up we thought that would be an ideal place for it.” The aforementioned new Reserve at Hudson Crossing building at the corner of Washington Street and Harrison Street in downtown Oswego is starting to pop. “Not only has this building provided ample parking for the new and already existing businesses downtown, new residents are continuing to fill up the apartment spaces as well,” McMaster said.
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2022 OSWEGO COMMUNITY DIRECTORY
“In addition, the commercial space on the first floor is all but leased to amazing upcoming businesses.” Oak and Bean is coming to life from the vision of the folks who introduced Krema Coffee and Wine and Cheese Company to downtown Plainfield. “This is a wine and coffee bar concept that hopes to take advantage of the new residents and heavy traffic along Route 34 in downtown Oswego,” McMaster said. “Plans have also been submitted for a trading card shop that will bring Pokémon card fans a place to buy, sell, and trade.” Economic development remains strong in Oswego with the long-awaited Freddie’s Off the Chain Mexican restaurant under construction with plans to open this spring on Madison Street. Additionally, the Dairy Barn ice cream shop at 121 Main St. expects to open its door just in time for summertime treats. “Downtown in Oswego will be quite a destination and we expect to see a lot of foot traffic because of these new restaurants and stores,” McMaster said. “Main Street’s already existing businesses like Hudson Design House and the Fox Valley Winery should expect to be booming once again very soon.” While there’s a lot going on already in the Village currently, McMaster said the interest remains strong as Oswego continues to attract new business to town. “We are working with several developers that will be bringing more fast casual restaurants, gas stations and retail stores to Route 34 and Orchard Road,” he said.
