West End owner has new plan for business
BY MARY LANCASTER
West End Restaurant and Market owner Ande Grennan has a new concept for his property that is looked on favorably by the planning department and he hopes will be warmly accepted by his Madaket neighbors.

Ande Grennan (right) would like to expand the store space (above left) to make it more like the 'Sconset Market, and to turn the existing restaurant (above right) into a residence. The store, if all goes according to plan, would carry wine, beer and liquor. "It's something I would like to do and do it responsibly, " said Grennan.

For the last nine months, Grennan has been trying to sell the West End, which he bought three years ago, but has not received any acceptable offers. Due to several matters, including inconsistent staffing demands linked to weather, and logistical problems with wait people trying to bustle up and down stairs from the first floor kitchen to the second floor dining area, Grennan closed the top story, once popular as a bar offering panoramic views of the ocean and spectacular sunsets. He ran the lower level restaurant this summer with a scaled back menu, but realized he needs to try a different tack.

What Grennan hopes to do now is expand the seasonal Madaket market's 400 square feet of store space by 150 square feet, add a basement for storage and a studio apartment for management. He wants to model the market after Mark Donato's successful 'Sconset Market where village patrons can find a little of a lot of different varieties of inventory, and which is adjacent to the 'Sconset liquor store. Late next year he would like to begin renovating the restaurant to make it into a residence.

To accomplish this, he needs to subdivide the property so the residence is separate. And to make the market profitable so he can do the renovation, he wants to offer more stock as well as a selection of wines, beer and liquor.

"The package license is essential in order to take on this financial undertaking," he said, adding that the store would have a small redemption center where kids could turn in cans for penny candy money. "And people on vacation want a glass of wine or a bottle of Triple Eight and they don't want to have to drive into town for it."

Planning director Andrew Vorce backs the concept.

"I think that it's important to have these markets in outlying areas, and I'm happy to hear that feature would be preserved," said Vorce, who has met with Grennan and also zoning board administrator Linda Williams to discuss the idea. One of the attractions is the fact that having a fuller market range in Madaket would cut back on traffic in town or in the mid-island.

Grennan, who plans to have pro- duce, sandwiches, basic beach and picnic fare, fresh coffee, major daily and local weekly newspapers and more staples than the market has historically carried, noted that the old Madaket Marine market used to carry beer and wine and does not believe that reintroducing that product element will bring any detriment to the west end area.

"It's something I would like to do and do it responsibly," he explained. "Water and candy and chips do not pay the bills for six weeks, but the bottom line is I want to work with Madaket. I think it's essential for this community to have this market."

Grennan sent about a dozen letters about his idea to abutters of the restaurant and market and intends to contact others in Madaket village. He hopes that before the end of January he will have responses to invitations for residents to meet at the West End for a fire in the fireplace, an informal talk about his proposal and the opportunity for him to receive suggestions on making the concept work. Grennan's goal is to have the market revamped and open for next spring.

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