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RFH 2010, News

Eberhardt To Operate Hamilton Inn

Fri, Oct 01, 2010

The Hamilton Inn on East Lake Road will soon be fully operational under the hand of innkeeper Ben Eberhardt.

Eberhardt To Operate Hamilton Inn

The family-owned company that is a pillar of the Central New York hospitality industry is doubling its considerable presence in the Hamilton area.

William "Ben" Eberhardt III, whose family business operates a number of venues including the Sherwood Inn in Skaneateles and the Colgate Inn locally, has signed a long-term agreement to operate the Hamilton Inn located on East Lake Road.

Eberhardt said the Hamilton Inn is operating its lodging facilities. He said he anticipates re-opening the restaurant by the third week of this month.

"The Inn will continue to offer a high quality dinner menu, private banquet space and overnight accommodations as well as on and offsite catering," said Eberhardt.

The Hamilton Inn abruptly closed in August following a dispute between owner Jim Metz and the management team over compensation issues.

Eberhardt made it clear that the Hamilton Inn has no connection whatsoever to Colgate, which owns the Colgate Inn. (A story today in The Maroon-News erroneously reported the university purchased the Hamilton Inn.)

A statement released by Eberhardt this morning said:

"With new agreements in place, (Eberhardt's) company will now have operational oversight of both the Hamilton Inn and the Colgate Inn, both located in Madison County but both distinctly different in character. Eberhardt’s vision for his newly acquired inn is distinctly different from that of the warmth and vitality of Colgate Inn (owned by the Colgate Inn LLC; of which Colgate University is the sole member).

“The Hamilton Inn has its own extraordinary reputation that it has earned over the years identifying itself. It is a quiet setting outside of the Village for a more intimate, private dining experience. My very logical course of action would be that The Hamilton Inn continues its own pursuit as yet another regionally recognized landmark of first-class food, beverage and hospitality in that venue," (said Eberhardt)."

The statement further said:

"Ben Eberhardt grew up in the Innkeeper business in Skaneateles. Over the last 30 years, his father Bill and their family’s company built a network of high quality hospitality venues throughout the Central New York region. Their flagship operation is centrally located at The Sherwood Inn on the north end of Skaneateles Lake.

"Ben, a combat veteran who left the Army after 14 years of service and an ascent to the rank of Major, brought his family and his management company to Hamilton in 2004 to independently lease and operate the Colgate Inn from Colgate University.

"Eberhardt’s company has had great success over the past 6 years providing hospitality to the many visitors of the community. Eberhardt places all credit for these accolades squarely on the leaders within his company and its employees. 

“I am extremely lucky to be surrounded by truly great people. They are the entire force behind all our success”. Additional personnel as well as the existing Colgate Inn staff will assist in transitioning the Hamilton Inn into its future role of hospitality and service to the surrounding communities of Hamilton and Madison.

"The Hamilton Inn has featured a beautiful setting for exceptional quality dining, comfortable lodging, and an extraordinary weddings venue since 1989."

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