Letter from Mary Tingley

What’s Next for Stella Luna?

I recently contacted my local Common Council representative inquiring about the status of Brewery Ommegang’s potential purchase of the historic property known locally for its former longtime occupant, the Stella Luna Restaurant, and its owners, the Avanzato family.

With much local excitement it was announced that a public private partnership would take place, beginning with an application for funding to the New York State Homes and Community Renewal NY Main Street Program for a Downtown Anchor Project grant on behalf of the brewery. The grant request would have supported the renovation of 58-60 Market Street for a tap house, commercial kitchen and training center with potential to share with the Makery. The project justification said “it aligns directly with the City of Oneonta’s 2024 strategic plan” in three major areas and goes on to describe the specifics of each.

This was submitted to the council’s Finance/Human Resources Committee on July 25, 2025 and authorized on July 28 by the Common Council, just three days before the grant deadline. Since then, crickets.

After researching the Regional Economic Development Council’s 2025 awards document for the Mohawk Valley, which covers a six-county region including Otsego, it listed 40 projects awarded, with details on scope and award amounts. The Ommegang project was not listed.

I’m told Ommegang withdrew their offer to partner with the city, but questions remain as to why, when many on the council clearly supported their application, and why the decision wasn’t communicated to encourage other interested investors to get involved.

I’m hopeful that with a new mayor at the helm that he and council members will continue to pursue a public private partnership, if not with Ommegang, with someone that will see the extraordinary value in this beautiful property.

Mary Tingley
Oneonta