Bill Nadon, who operates Bill’s Restaurant located at 53 S. Depot St. in Owego, is celebrating one year of success. (Photo by Wendy Post)
When Owego resident Bill Nadon decided to leave his position at IBM Endicott in August of 2016, he was looking for a new venture. With some cooking and catering experience under his belt, as well as an accounting degree, operating a restaurant would soon be a good fit.
The train station, located at 53 S. Depot St. in Owego, was converted into a restaurant at one time and was last opened as Grand Central. On Sept. 8, 2016, Nadon re-opened the restaurant as Bill’s Restaurant, an All American eatery.
In a recent interview, he stated that he was drawn to the historic train station and was looking for a change.
“I’ve worked in restaurants performing various jobs and have always been interested in working for myself,” said Nadon, adding, “The opportunity was right.”
Bill Nadon, who operates Bill’s Restaurant located at 53 S. Depot St. in Owego, has made improvements to his venue to include the stage, where he offers karaoke, bands, open mic night, and a house piano that he stated his patrons will play now and then. (Photo by Wendy Post)
The train station, built in 1831, was a draw for him, with at least a dozen trains passing along the Norfolk Southern Railway daily. He noted that the patrons love to watch the trains pass by; a whistle blows as the train is approaching.
In fact, an historic marker on the restaurant’s north side, and resting in front of the railroad tracks, denotes the birthplace of Erie, and a convention held on Dec. 20, 1831 to further the Charter of New York and Erie Railroad. The last passenger train arrived at the station in 1968.
With its historic past, Nadon really didn’t have to change anything upon opening, but he did make some modifications to the inside of the restaurant to enhance things and better accommodate the experience offered to guests.
Bill Nadon, who operates Bill’s Restaurant located at 53 S. Depot St. in Owego, has made improvements to his venue to include removing a wall and opening up the seating area in his restaurant. (Photo by Wendy Post)
Some of the improvements included the removal of a wall in the center of the dining area, which opened things up for patrons. Nadon also added multiple television sets and lighting and a sound system to his stage area.
And with the addition of sound and lighting for the stage came entertainment. Since opening, Bill’s Restaurant now offers live music, karaoke, and a popular open mic night. An older piano that graces the stage is also utilized, often by patrons to the establishment.
With the opened up space in the restaurant, Nadon stated that he has been able to host community benefits and other activities. Some examples include the burger-eating contest held last year to benefit Tioga County Rural Ministry and Jocelyn Kline’s guest bartending to raise money for the Kline family. He has also hosted Owego Free Academy class reunions, weddings, and much more.
The historic marker, on the right, denotes the birthplace of Erie, and a convention held on Dec. 20, 1831 to further the Charter of New York and Erie Railroad. The last passenger train arrived at the station in 1968. (Photo by Wendy Post)
Other improvements to his restaurant include road signs, parking stripes, kitchen improvements and an exhaust system. The signs, he noted, were important as they help guests navigate their way to the restaurant.
“The improvements to the outdoor signage have been a big help for new customers that are trying to find us,” he added.
Since his opening on Sept. 8, 2016, Bill’s Restaurant has been well received by the community. Over the last year, Bill’s Restaurant became a member of the Tioga County Chamber of Commerce, as well as the Historic Owego Marketplace. Through these organizations, Nadon hopes to reach out further to the community.
On his menu, Bill’s Restaurant boasts All American cuisine, offering ribs that are smoked in-house, burgers, a salad bar, hand-cut steaks, and even steamed clams. In 2018, Nadon hopes to expand to catering and plans to host more private parties.
The restaurant has also changed their hours to accommodate patrons that are football fans. “With seven television sets,” said Nadon, “we will be watching a lot of football.”
New hours are Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and on Sunday from noon to 8 p.m. They will be closed on Mondays.
On Oct. 27, Bill’s Restaurant will welcome Pasty White and Double Wide for an 8 p.m. performance. Bill’s Restaurant is also offering NFL Ticket Game Days on Sundays all season long.
You can learn more by visiting www.billsinowego.com. Here, you will find the entertainment schedule, the menu, and some history on Bill’s Restaurant. You can also call them at (607) 223-4063.
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