A popular Bemus Point establishment is in the process of having new ownership.

During the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency meeting, board members approved $250,000 in loans to 14 Main, LLC doing business as The See Zuhr House, located in Bemus Point. Bruce Scroxton and Andrew Haney are looking to purchase the establishment.

According to Rosie Strandburg with the county IDA, the See Zuhr House opened in 1960 and has been owned by its current owners since 1984.

Once the sale goes through, Scroxton and Haney are ready to hit the ground running. “They’re looking to keep the charm of the restaurant. Most of the menu items will stay but they are going to install a brick oven pizza and they are going to open up the kitchen so you can see them cooking,” Strandburg said.

The new owners want to upgrade the bathrooms by making them handicapped accessible and add a ramp outside. No changes to the upstairs are planned for now. “There’s not really a way to change access to the upstairs, but they’re going to keep the same flow to the upstairs,” she said.

The new owners are seeking a $124,000 loan for machinery and equipment, and a $126,000 loan for working capital. The loans through the county IDA would be 4% interest. One loan will be for 10 years and the other will be for seven years.

According to Strandburg, the See Zuhr House has 17 part-time employees. Their goal is to keep them, as well as hire an additional five to six full-timers and nine more part-timers.

Strandburg noted how the See Zuhr House is one of the few establishments that is open year-round in Bemus Point, although they do increase business in the summer.

The new owners hope to start construction work right away and be finished by next summer. Strandburg said the upstairs will remain open during construction, including football watch parties.

Richard Dixon, IDA chief financial officer, said this move is another positive development in Bemus Point, including new owners of the Hotel Leinhart and some other projects in consideration.

Strandburg agreed. “We’re certainly helping the continued growth of Bemus,” she said.

The county IDA Board of Directors unanimously approved the loans.