The Sinclair beer-and-games parlor to debut in Saratoga

Inside The Sinclair

The space at 17 Maple Avenue in Saratoga Springs that opened to over-the-top rah-rah coverage by some of the foodie media as Javier's, then quickly flopped, is in the process of being brought back to life.

Hilary Morrison, owner of what she is  calling The Sinclair, is promising a summer debut for a beer garden and coin-operated game room there. Right now, she is using some of the space for an a la carte event venue.

Morrison, who has signed up Rory Moran of Comfort Kitchen as her consulting chef during the development phase, plans to make a rotating lineup of New York State-produced beers along with a collection of vintage games plus Foosball and board games the centerpieces of her venture.

Javier's, billed as a "nuevo Latino" restaurant, closed in the Maple Avenue location in November 2014 after less than 20 months in operation. It was headed by Javier Rodriguez, a well-known New York City maitre'd who came to the Capital Region after his employer, the popular River Cafe in Brooklyn, was ravaged by Superstorm Sandy and closed. The creation of the restaurant Javier's was met with near-orgasmic coverage by a number of local food-and-restaurant bloggers, but that did not help it translate into long-term success.

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