Owners of Wheatfields Restaurants Expand Their Portfolio
SARATOGA SPRINGS – Nestled in The Springs, a mixed-use development in Saratoga, BWP Local Grille has opened its doors, serving craft beers, boutique wines by the glass and hand-tossed specialty pizzas.
The 3,800-square-foot restaurant is equipped with a full-service bar and three-season outdoor patio with fire pits. BWP is open for lunch, dinner and carry-out service.
“We want this to be a neighborhood contemporary bar and grill,” said Tim Holmes, co-owner. “We want to be the neighborhood hangout, a place where people can feel comfortable coming three to four times a week and also getting take-out. It’s fun, it’s upbeat, it’s casual.”
This is the third restaurant in the upstate New York market for co-owners Tim and Colleen Holmes. Prior to their work in New York, Tim and Colleen were involved with restaurants in Chicago, Boston and Las Vegas.
The couple runs Wheatfields Restaurant and Bar on Broadway in Saratoga Springs, which opened in 2004 and has celebrated 11 racing seasons. In 2009, they opened Wheatfields Bistro and Wine Bar at The Crossings in Clifton Park. The restaurant will celebrate its fifth anniversary in November.
“Those two are doing well,” said Tim. “Even though they have the Wheatfields name, they’re specific to their location; and [BWP] is a completely different concept altogether, but part of our family. Certainly we’re looking forward to offering our market clientele the ability to go from one to the other and get a loyalty program and things like that, so we’re excited.”
With over 25 beers, 13 of which are on tap, and a variety of all-natural specialty burgers, specialty pizzas and hearty salads, customers have a wide range of options on the menu. Tim says one of their goals was to incorporate local products on the menu; including beer from Saratoga Brewery, Brown’s Brewery rom Troy, Lake Placid Craft Brewing Company, Cooperstown, and Schmaltz Brewery in Clifton Park.
“We have seven products represented from New York in the craft beer section,” said Tim. “We also feature four New York wines by the glass as well, along with some New York spirits that are now being distilled. We wanted craft and artisan products that are made close to home.”
Dessert items on the menu are also locally made from J&S Watkins Desserts in Clifton Park. Even the artwork was conceptualized by a local artist named Dan Roll. Local millworker Ralph Grasso assisted in the design and construction process as well.
Visit BWP at The Springs, a development by Bonacio Construction, at 74 Weibel Ave. near Northway Exit 15. The restaurant will begin serving lunch every day of the week starting Monday, Oct. 7. Call 518-763-BWP5 for carryout.
“The dining industry is always evolving,” said Tim. “We’ve developed BWP to be a very welcoming, clean and comfortable look. We also wanted to be very accessible. Come as you are, come as often as you’d like.”
