Located in the former Friendly’s, new $1.6 million eatery will create about 14 full-time and 23 part-time positions
By Steve Yablonski
A vacant restaurant site was set to come back to life in February.
Located in the former Friendly’s Ice Cream site on West Bridge Street, it will be known as Tully’s Chicken Tender Concept. With about 10 tables inside, it will be a grab-and-go style eatery. There will be room inside for about 40 patrons.
“We are looking to be open probably the second or third week in February. Hopefully, if all goes well,” said Tully’s Good Times co-owner David Giamartino.
They were waiting on some equipment and a few other things in late January.
“But, that is the plan as of now. But things could change in the world we live in right now,” Giamartino added.
This will be a Tully’s quick service site, he explained.
“It’ll be smaller than our normal Tully’s restaurant. This will be our first quick service concept that we’ve done. It will feature a drive-thru option,” he said.
They have a similar quick service Tully’s concept at Binghamton University campus, he added.
“This will be our first official, we’ll call it quick service free-standing concept, with a drive-thru, a quick service menu,” he said. “It’s going to have a drive-thru, primarily. But, people can walk up to the counter and order. There will be some seating inside,” Giamartino said.
The truncated menu will include things like Tully’s hand-breaded fresh chicken tenders (Buffalo tenders and Asian tenders), chicken sandwiches, dips and sauces, salads and some desserts, according to Giamartino.
It’s about a $1.6 million project and will create about 14 full-time and 23 part-time positions. Tully’s plans to hire staff locally.
They have invested “a significant amount” to get the kitchen up to code, Giamartino added.
Oswego Mayor Billy Barlow said, “We’re thrilled to partner with Tully’s to develop the former Friendly’s property and put the site back into productive use.”
Tully’s will be a wonderful addition to the Oswego community, he added.
“We’re looking forward to opening. We think the college will draw traffic, the high school is right behind us and the community at large,” Giamartino said. “There’s not a huge offering of places like this to eat, so we think it will be a good addition to the neighborhood. Hopefully we draw from some of the other surrounding towns as well. There is not another Tully’s until you get to North Syracuse.
“We are looking forward to being part of the community. We think it’s going to be successful. We are hoping we can open as soon as we can and start putting out our fresh hand-breaded chicken tenders for the folks in Oswego.”
