A bar and a tribute: Peterson’s Tavern is reincarnated

Not long ago, there was a spot on the south side of Main Street in Binghamton called Champz, which seemed to appear and vanish before we had a chance to get to know it. “We kinds ran into some trademark issues,” says Liam Burns, part owner of what was then Champz and is now the fully-renovated Peterson’s Tavern. The former establishment had served food, beer, and wine, but couldn’t get a liquor license because of its proximity to a church.

The place closed down while it awaited a liquor license, and made some interior changes. “‘If we’re gonna serve beer,” Liam recalls his brother, Johnny, saying, “then we need an actual bar top.’ So, he kind of just ripped the bar out one night, and was like, ‘I’ll build it in a week.’ He built this bar in his garage, by himself, with eight different kinds of wood.”

While they were waiting on the full liquor license, and while Johnny was rebuilding, Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo had a bill passed that allowed them to obtain a liquor license in that location.

“We wanted to rebrand it,” Burns recalls, pointing to the church that had once prevented their business from serving booze, “and then I saw that sign. That’s the New York State Historic Landmarks sign, and it says ‘Peterson’s Tavern.’ It’s where they signed the incorporating documents for Binghamton in 1834.”

In addition to its name, Liam plans on creating some dishes and drinks as a tribute to Binghamton. “I want to do a Swamp Root shot – I don’t know what I want to put in it yet, but it’s gotta be gritty and gross and nasty, but have a lot of alcohol content. I realized that you can still buy Swamp Root – they still make it – so I was thinking of putting it in the shot. I don’t know what it does!”

For the time being, they have a great house mojito, and are always running drink specials. One night we went, we had a cranberry-apple Moscow Mule, which was delicious on an autumn evening.

Peterson’s is also paying homage to local legends with its art: local painter Jesse Ryan – who used to skateboard with Liam - made custom works for the tavern depicting Binghamton icons. “Everybody knows Elvis,” Liam remarks, referencing Ryan’s painting of our city’s now iconic street cowboy. Another Binghamtonian immortalized on the tavern wall is Hack, the original owner of the Pine Lounge, now Abel’s. “Everybody had their first beer at that bar – Hack was just the man. It’s a tribute to him.”

Peterson’s is elevated by its ambiance – yes, there’s often sports playing on the televisions mounted above the bar, but the interior evokes a rustic lounge more than a sports dive. There’s a couple of leather couches with an oversized, shiny version of Connect Four on the coffee table. And in back, they have a patio where patrons can watch sports (and maybe even movies) projected on the building’s back wall.

The food at Peterson’s also aims to transcend the average pub grub. When seeking inspiration for the menu, Liam spent some time in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. “I was absorbing everything,” he says. That’s where he got the idea for the BLEAT burger – a burger with bacon, lettuce, egg, avocado, and tomato. And the menu is still expanding. “One thing I want to put on there is chicken and waffles – they’re everywhere in the city.”

The rest of the ideas come from the guys in the kitchen: seasoned chef Mike Mondolfi and part owner Nate Jachimowicz. “The inspiration was just bar freshness,” says Jachimowicz. “I know how difficult it is to make money off food consistently, so I was more taking the menu and just complementing the bar. Just simple creations – an elegant, fresh spin on the food that already had existed with Champz. We like to keep the bar menu subtle.”

While Burns is shrewd with an eye for trends, Jachimowicz is all experience and elbow grease. “I’m just taking inspiration from local businesses, because I really have no formal training.” Nate recalls how, eight years ago, he used his tax return from roofing to start a small business: “I bought a food cart just for survival, in this area, because there was no work. It was called Champz Chili Dogs, which honestly were probably were the best chili dogs – they’re not the best in the world, but they’re at least equal to the best in the world – they’re good. We’re gonna put those back on the menu.”

When we visited, we were taken with the appetizers. We had some shrimp wrapped in bacon drenched in a sticky, sweet sauce, and something called “Meatball Heaven,” which is a small portion of cheesy meatballs, without the spaghetti - a creation of Mondolfi’s, who is skilled in the art of Italian cooking.

Always the man with the plan, Burns continues to look to the future. “We have other restaurants we’re going to open, including that one right across the street.” Liam is referring to the new building on Main Street across from the Riverwalk. “It’s just a mystery.”

Peterson’s Tavern is located at 11 Main Street, Binghamton, (607) 216-7850. Facebook @petersonstavern. Open seven days a week; hours are currently being extended to include lunch.