Property purchases may help solve Taverne’s parking problems
by Sue Serdinak
It seems like a nice problem to have. Having opened its doors just eight months ago, Olesia’s Taverne of Richfield has a parking lot that is overflowing. Co-owner with his wife, Olesia, Joe Butano said Lee Marie hair salon has been allowing valet parking in its lot, after salon hours, but the restaurant needs additional parking.
In September, Butano purchased the house and property immediately north of the restaurant at 3982 Broadview Road. He also is closing on a deal to purchase the second house north of the Taverne. Butano cut down trees and is parking employee cars in the back yards of those century buildings, while he determines what to do with the structures.
Butano said several people have suggested he raze the closest house because it is in disrepair. However, he said that is cost prohibitive now, so he plans to “repair, re-side and paint” it to give it a clean, historical image and continue to rent it.
Mark Mitchell at the Richfield Historical Society provided the history of the two houses, which included interesting surprises.
That corner of Richfield was once the center of commerce in the area. In the mid-1800s, Carr Carriage Shop prospered on the site of the two houses and a general store/house stood on the site of the Taverne. All three buildings burned down in 1885.
The current Taverne building was constructed on the site of the store shortly after the fire. The carriage house was rebuilt on its original site, and some believe beams from the original building were saved in the fire and re-used in the rebuilt shop.
Circa 1930, after cars had replaced carriages, the carriage shop was shut down, and the building was cut in half to create two residences, the brown and white houses of today.
The Taverne hasn’t had parking problems since Mel Rose owned the building and Coliseum crowds patronized the restaurant. A neighbor to the west, Charles Boester, recalled that Taverne goers attempted to park all along Route 303 back in the Coliseum days, blocking driveways. It was a normal occurrence for police to be called.
Butano said that Rose purchased the same land north of the restaurant in the 1970s, presumably to solve his parking problem. However, Rose never altered the property and finally sold it.
Now Butano controls those properties along with the gray building south of the Taverne. He said they are doing a lot of brainstorming. He was unable to provide a timeline for his next move, but the community will be eagerly watching.
Feature image photo caption: Joe Butano is hoping to solve parking shortage for Olesia’s Taverne by purchasing two century buildings.
