Welcome Upcoming Business “The Lincoln”
Welcome Upcoming Business “The Lincoln”
Local Business Partners are Bringing New Life to Ellicottville’s Telemark Motel
Photos / thelincolnevl
For some people, their high school friendships, romances, sports, and jobs end up much like their high school yearbooks - tucked away and forgotten, with little or no connection to their current stage of life. But not for Dawn (Barczak) Hogan, whose life has come full circle since 2004, her senior year of high school. By the time her high school classmates meet for their 20th reunion this summer, Hogan can once again be found at the former Telemark Motel, where she worked during high school. But this time, she won’t be bartending, waiting tables, cleaning rooms, or working in the kitchen. Hogan and her business partners are now the owners of the iconic Ellicottville motel, which will be open this spring as The Lincoln Boutique Motel.
Hogan and her family were good friends with former motel owners James and Janet Tekavec, who are thrilled that the business will be brought back to life by Route Two Nineteen LLC, the investment group comprised of Hogan and her family. “The previous owners have a daughter, Sara, and we were in the same graduating class together,” Hogan explained. “Janet was going through some old things to give to Sara during her visit.” One of those items was Sara’s high school yearbook, which Hogan signed and wrote a surprisingly foretelling message: “…I’lll see ya around the good old Cadillac Jack’s ‘cuz I’ll be working there for the rest of my life.”
While Hogan has not worked at the motel in many years, her other work experiences and that of her family have prepared her for this next chapter. Over the years, Hogan has owned her own business and she and her family have many combined years of experience in construction, commercial properties, remodeling, and Airbnb operations.
“One of our business partners has renovated a couple of different properties, one of which is in Randolph and another one on Chautauqua Lake, and he kept pulling into the Telemark parking lot with a vision for something fresh and new,” she said. “We’re recreating the 12 motel rooms to have a really trendy and unique vibe. We also have a couple of short-term rentals on the other side of the restaurant. One is already an Airbnb and the other is going to be up and running in a few weeks. We’ll continue to keep those as short-term rentals.”
As many who have visited or driven past the motel know, the existing exterior of the building has a copper roof. While the exterior color will get a face lift, the roof will remain a focal point, and its material is connected to the new name. Hogan explained, “We’ve all lost loved ones where the ‘Pennies from Heaven’ play a big role in our lives. Thinking about the Lincoln - copper roof tops - felt like the perfect rebrand. There will be lucky penny accents throughout!” Hogan and her family want to help people add more adventure and fun to their lives by spending time in Ellicottville, a sentiment they feel is captured perfectly by Abraham Lincoln’s words: “In the end it is not the years in your life that count; it’s the life in your years.”
Currently, Route Two Nineteen LLC is actively seeking a restaurant tenant to bring the former motel restaurant, Cadillac Jack’s, back to life. The restaurant is fully equipped, has a clean kitchen and is 3,000 square feet. “We want this to be an area where people can feel welcome and enjoy themselves,” Hogan explained. “We hope that the next restaurant owner will have that vibe and be in harmony with the motel side of the business. That’s what we want to bring to the community. We want to draw locals back to the restaurant and the bar, and we want to offer people from out of town a trendy, cozy spot.” Creating a new place for events, hosting guests, providing local jobs, and accommodating wedding parties are just some of the goals Hogan and her family have for the business, and they can’t wait to get started!
Their projected opening date is sometime in April or May of this year. Those who are interested in a restaurant partnership or future bookings, especially for large parties or events, can contact Route Two Nineteen LLC at 716-984-1128 or thelincolnevl@gmail.com. Stay up-to-date on The Lincoln by following them on Instagram @thelincolnevl or on Facebook at The Lincoln Boutique Motel.