Exciting news for Schenectady residents – the beloved Horses Lounge is set to make a grand comeback this Tuesday!
The Horses Lounge, a cherished local watering hole on McClellan Street, has been shuttered since the previous summer. However, it’s now ready to welcome patrons once again under new management, boasting a fresh look and an updated menu.
“Not a day passes without someone inquiring about the reopening of the Horses,” shared Tommy Nicchi, the new owner of the establishment and the building at 912 McClellan, which he purchased from Christian Fritzen late last year.
The bar was originally opened in September 1976 by Fred and Gladys Fritzen, Christian’s father and stepmother. Gladys, who had spent a significant part of her early career training and showing horses, was the inspiration behind the bar’s name. Christian took over the reins in 2014 when Fred’s health began to deteriorate.
When the time came to find a buyer, Christian was determined to find someone who would not only keep the Horses alive but also enhance it.
“It was crucial for me to find a buyer who would carry forward my family’s legacy,” Fritzen expressed. “We’ve been a cornerstone in the community for almost half a century, and I’m thrilled that our legacy will live on.”
Nicchi, who also owns The Broken Inn in Niskayuna and the Comedy Works in Saratoga Springs, first heard about the closure of The Horses Lounge from its loyal customers.
“My staff and patrons, who have been frequenting this place for years, always spoke fondly of it,” Nicchi revealed.
He attended an estate sale at the restaurant last September, where some memorabilia was being sold. Within minutes, he was convinced that he wanted to revive the place. The former customers have been supportive from the get-go.
“As soon as the news broke, people who had been visiting since the 70s, 80s, and 90s, were thrilled to return,” Nicchi said. “There’s a sense of nostalgia for them, and the locals who were regulars were equally excited.”
Over the past few months, Nicchi and a small team have been renovating the restaurant, restoring the century-old hardwood floors, and modernizing the kitchen and patio.
Just like at The Broken Inn, everything at the Horses, from the light fixtures to the barstools, “had a life before it came here,” according to Nicchi. This includes a vintage horse head that’s used as a draft line handle, fondly referred to as the “Horse Line.” Each week, it will feature a different $5 draft. However, customers can also opt to spin a large red and white wheel behind the bar, with the numbers 1-10. The number it lands on is the price they pay.
The decor also pays homage to Schenectady’s history. The walls are adorned with postcards depicting scenes around the city from the 1920s to 1940s.
“The idea is to connect people who know this place but haven’t been here in years and those who are just discovering it, through their common link – Schenectady,” Nicchi explained.
There are also photo collages of customers at the bar over the years.
“These are the roots of this place. Let’s invite people in and see if they can spot themselves,” Nicchi suggested.
The menu has also been revamped. Fritzen passed down the family recipes, and the popular wings and burgers will still be on offer, but now they’re fully customizable.
“Instead of having a fixed set of house burgers with specific toppings, we’re going to offer the same burger and then you just tell us what you want on it,” Nicchi said.
The same applies to wings, flatbreads, footlong hot dogs, fries/tots, and onion rings. There are also salads and starters, some of which are carried over from The Broken Inn, including the Bavarian pretzels and sweet corn nuggets.
The Horses’ house-made blue cheese dressing, a closely guarded Fritzen family recipe, will also be available.
“We’ll be selling the house recipe blue cheese to go because people love it that much,” Nicchi said.
When it comes to beer, they’re reintroducing Genesse Cream Ale, Schlitz, and Coors in banquet-style bottles. They’ll continue to offer locally-made craft beer from Seven Points Brewery, Wolf Hollow Brewery, and Frog Alley.
They’ll also now be open for lunch, with operating hours from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday. If customers pay in cash, 3% of the sale will go toward Schenectady-centric causes in an initiative Nicchi’s calling #RESPECTSCHENECT.
“While people don’t always take change very well, they’ve been very positive in terms of their response to the changes we’ve made,” Nicchi said.
Fritzen has been pleased to see Nicchi build on his family’s legacy, noting that Nicchi’s love for the community and his experience in the business, gave him “the confidence and comfort in making this transition much more settling.”
“I know our regular customer base will welcome Tommy and his crew with open arms and support his and The Horses Lounge’s continued successes for many more years to come,” Fritzen said.
Agree – excited to see the horses back in action at The Horses Lounge in Schenectady!
Great news, can’t wait to visit again!