Business Profile: WaterStone Grille, Peekskill
Montrose resident Theresa Johnsen has been in the restaurant business for years, working as a
a server, bartender and manager, but had not owned one until recently.
Johnsen co-owns the WaterStone Grille with Manhattan resident Vincent Kennedy. Johnsen said last week Kennedy bought the building in August. “In the first week in January we closed up and we did renovations,” Johnsen said, adding the restaurant re-opened on February 22. “It’s beautiful.”
While this is the first restaurant Johnsen has owned, Kennedy has already owned other eateries. Johnsen worked for the former owner of the restaurant, Bruce Prehal, for nine years
“It’s my passion. I love it,” Johnsen said. “This is our passion. This is where we want to be. We want to be right here in Peekskill.”
The restaurant is located in the Historic Inn on the Hudson hotel, where Prehal is general manager, but they are two separate businesses, Johnsen noted. The outdoor patio of the eatery has a scenic view of Buchanan and the Hudson River.
The restaurant has Italian menu for lunch and dinner, which features a variety of appetizers and chicken, seafood and veal dishes, as well as daily specials. WaterStone Grille also has a full service bar.
WaterStone Grille is open every day except Monday. However, Johnsen said the restaurant is slated to also be open on Monday in the near future. Another future plan is continue its regular live music performances and bring them outdoors in the warmer weather.
“What we’re looking to do for the summertime is we’re going to be setting up about five or six big round tables with the big umbrellas,” she said. “We’re going to have poolside (dinners).”
Some of the summer eating events could include lobster bakes, clambakes and pig roasts accompanied by live music, she said.
“We want to have a successful business here,” Johnsen said. “We want it to be a fun place to come to with good food, good service and we want to have our entertainment here and we want to utilize the whole outside here for the summertime.”
The WaterStone Grille is located inside the Historic Inn on the Hudson at 634 Main St., Peekskill. For reservations and more information, call 914-737-0515.
