By Dan King
The Whitehall Marina, restaurant and RV park have new owners.
Bill Brina, owner of Dagon Enterprises, said last week he had sold the marina and the restaurant to Robert Lynn Wagemann and the RV park to Sal Paneta. The new owners are “in place” and getting ready for the season, Brina said.
Wagemann, an experienced marina operator, said he is looking forward to making the facility, which opens in the spring, a destination for all boaters.
“We are looking to recapture the customer base, with a full-service marina; anything boating-related will be available,” he said. “We want to make this a destination and not just a stopping point for boaters.”
Services of the marina will include gas and diesel fuel, seasonal dockage, transient dockage, pump-outs, marine supplies, a ship-to-shore store, full-service boat servicing and repairs, masting and demisting, towing services, winterization, boat storage, showers and restrooms, laundry facilities and a small swimming pool.
“We are certainly trying to pick up where they left off, it was unfortunate circumstances that the old ownership couldn’t keep going,” Wagemann said.
As for the restaurant in the marina, Wagemann has decided to call it the Tavern at Lock 12. He hopes to bring both pub food and upscale entrees to the forefront and cater to what the customers want.
Wagemann is the former owner of Hacker Boats, a custom boat-building company in Ticonderoga, and is an avid speedboat racer.
Dana Grant, vice president of the Whitehall Chamber of Commerce, was ecstatic about the reopening of the facility.
“It’s awesome; as I’ve said before, we just need new blood and new ideas and an understanding of customer service,” Grant said. “The Finch and Chubb will be next. Dividing the ownership of these businesses up is great.”
Grant said that the uniqueness of the waterfront is something that could benefit Whitehall moving forward.
“The Armory, the (Skene) Manor and the waterfront are absolutely great assets to Whitehall,” he said.
Village Trustee Marge Mohn shared a similar sentiment.
“It’s very good news and I’m very excited about it,” she said.
Both businesses are currently working on new websites, new telephone numbers and email addresses, which they said will be available shortly.
Brina was thankful to real estate agent Bethe Reynolds and Keller Williams real estate, for their help in finding a worthy buyer.