By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
ELLICOTTVILLE — When the Ellicottville Depot closed this spring, everyone wondered what would become of the popular iconic tavern.
Over the summer, Win-Sum Ski Corp., which owns Holiday Valley, purchased the property at 6090 Route 219 South from the Brown family for $1.3 million. It is across Route 219 from Holiday Valley.
Earlier this week, the Cattaraugus County Industrial Development Agency approved tax breaks for the new owner, which plans to lease it to the Crook family, owners of the Bar-Bill taverns in Erie County.
Technically, it will remain The Ellicottville Depot, but will be run by the Crook family, which operates the Bar-Bill taverns, according to Corey Wiktor, executive director of the Industrial Development Agency.
The original Bar-Bill Tavern in East Aurora opened in 1967. It was named after the owners, Barb and Bill Crook. The menu includes its famous chicken wings and pizza, which will be coming to the new Ellicottville location. It will be open year-round.
Owner John Crook plans to open in February, catching the second half of the 2025-26 ski season. Visitors will see the tavern’s interior much the same as it has been over the years. The Crooks purchased the contents of the Depot as well. The kitchen will see improvements and the infrastructure will be improved.
Win-Sum plans to spend about $95,000 on renovations
Wiktor said the PILOT application states 15 full-time positions and 10-part-time jobs will be created. Some of the jobs are likely to go to former Ellicottville Depot employees, he added. The estimated annual payroll is $775,000.
The benefits to Win-Sum Ski Corp., include sales tax exemption on about $115,000 worth of purchases. The estimated benefit is about $9,200. When the payment in lieu of taxes is added, total tax benefits are just over $51,000, acording to Wiktor.
Between the purchase price and renovations and purchases, the investment totals nearly $1.5 million.
The Ellicottville Depot was once located on the B&O line on Mill Street in the village. It was painstakingly moved to its current location in the mid 1970s.
