New sports bar to open on Marshall Street in former Maggies location
A new sports bar, DJ’s on the Hill, will open Jan. 13 on Marshall Street, at the former location of Maggies Restaurant and Sports Bar.
‘I think that SU needs another place that kids of legal age can go to watch games, have good meals,’ said Dean Whittles, DJ’s owner.
Whittles began the process of purchasing the property and securing proper restaurant licensing in April, he said. He has secured a liquor license for the property. Although Whittles has never owned a restaurant, he has hired an experienced cook and managers to help run the business, he said.
His cook, Bob Brown, previously owned a number of restaurants in the Syracuse area, and will bring ‘new and unique items to the hill,’ Whittle said. He would not comment on what these unique foods will be, but said the restaurant will also have typical American sports bar cuisine.
Maggies closed and lost its liquor license after a raid in April 2009 by the Liquor Authority, Syracuse Police Department, the N.Y. State Police and the Onondaga Sherriff’s Office, The Daily Orange reported. Police issued approximately 150 underage drinking citations during the raid, and four bartenders were arrested for serving alcohol to minors, The Daily Orange reported.
Maggies went on sale in February 2010, when the owners could not retain their liquor license, The Daily Orange reported. Kirby, Carroll & Associates was the real estate agency handling the sale, and could not be reached for comment on Wednesday.
DJ’s on the Hill will compete with other restaurants in the area such as Faegan’s Café and Pub and Varsity. Whittles said he thinks the competition his restaurant will bring is a good thing, and he will cater specifically to those 21 years old and over.
Whittles was born in the west end of Syracuse and has lived in Syracuse his entire life, he said. He also owns Dejon’s Hair Designs, which has three locations in Syracuse.
Published on December 28, 2010 at 12:00 pm
