Davison Road Inn to re-open. The Davison Road eatery, closed since last year will re-open under new ownership before Memorial Day according to word given to The Lockport Home Page. A source said one of the new owners is John Lombardi who will serve as General Manager of the operation. Others involved include Mike Greig and David Herl. The place gets a new name of "Vineyard Inn." (4/27/06)
David car dealership reported closing. They had lost the Oldsmobile line a year ago when Olds production was halted by General Motors. That left the Cadillac and GMC franchises. Sources tell the Lockport Home Page that the Cadillac franchise may go to Heinrich Chevy. The GMC franchise will go across the street, we're told, to Mike Smith Pontiac. The David dealership property, sources say, will be turned into a Delta car wash location. A Honda dealership is also be discussed for a new Lockport location. The story is still developing. A date for the closing has not yet been announced. (4/24/06)
New restaurant opening rumored at old location. Rumors are circulating in Lockport that the downtown "Old City Hall" at the Pine Street Bridge over the canal will open late this or summer as a new restaurant. The building has hosted dining establishment before but the last major tenant ran a rock tavern out of the building with a small cafe in the basement. It's been closed for a couple years with only the Lockport Cave using a part of the building to sell tickets for its canalside "cave" tours last year during the tourist season. The eatery is said to have decided on the once-before-used-name of "Old City Hall Restaurant." (4/22/06)
Rumors on Real Estate. After a local woman confronted Lockport Mayor Mike Tucker with allegations of "drug house" activity on Walnut Street the once-grand residence shown below had windows boarded up and a "For Sale" attached to its front. It stands next to the once-exclusive Tuscarora Club which remains in operation. (4/10/06)
Was it the hydrants or the pumper that didn't work? Maybe both. The Lockport Home Page was told Thursday, 12/1, by a city insider that when firefighters arrived at the Irving Street fire where two city hydrants were said to be inoperative, yet another, even more important fire-fighting tool on the scene did not work. Firefighters reportedly struggled with the city's almost-brand new 750-gallon storage-pumper fire engine. Had it been working properly, sources tell us, it could have sent jets of water on the fire immediately to start control of the blaze while other firefighters were searching nearby streets for a working hydrant. Fire truck repair specialists were reported in to fire headquarters a few days later attempting to correct what went wrong with the pumper truck. This question is now being added to the on-going investigation into the fire response tragedy of November 25th. (12/1/05)
A second chance for accused embezzler. Thanks to some pressure from a high-powered politician, a man who reportedly took thousands from a Newfane area business has been given a second chance. He's now on the job at a county quasi-public benefit organization, the Lockport Home Page was told on Friday, 11/4. And a check by The Page indicates he's still handling cash receipts, although the amounts are much smaller. He was saved from criminal charges on his previous business adventure thanks to political intervention and the soft heart of property owner. (11/5/05)
Another car dealership on South Transit Road? Rumors are reaching the Lockport Home Page that a Delaware development company is buying 9-acres of property off South Transit Road in the Town of Pendleton. The objective is said to be the establishment of a new automobile dealership. The property in question reportedly meets zoning requirements. (11/2/05)
O.J. Simpson reported house-hunting in Lockport. The former Buffalo Bills football star has been seen dining in Lockport and Middleport restaurants and reportedly has been looking at high-end real estate in the Lockport area. Usually reliable sources tell the Lockport Home Page that among the properties he has looked over is one on Lincoln Avenue at Locust. We're told he has been dating a local woman (blonde). O.J. is reportedly a resident of Florida. News reports indicate there are civil judgements against which normally would make it difficult for him to buy or own property outside of Florida (where such regulation is lax). However there is speculation that property in Lockport could be purchased through a third-party. Mr. Simpson had a second dose of international fame after his football days (both as player and broadcaster). He was charged in connection with the murder of his wife. A police chase was aired on national TV for hours before he was finally apprehended. A jury found him "Not Guilty" in a trial that gathered national interest. However, a civil "wrongful death" suit found him liable for a substantial judgement. Victim families have been unable to collect. (10/27/05) After Lockport Page exclusive reports were published Thursday they were picked up by other media on Saturday. Then a real estate agent indicated she was asked to lie by a Simpson representative and told to deny any interest by O.J. in Lockport area properties. (10/29/05)