Rudy’s to delay reopening due to renovations

OSWEGO, N.Y. – The popular Rudy’s restaurant on the shore of Lake Ontario west of the city of Oswego is getting a facelift. Normally, around this time of year, Rudy’s lakeside drive-in is having its opening weekend, but this year is a little different. 

Rudy’s manager Douglas Appleman said there haven’t been any major updates to the restaurant since the mid-1980s. This year’s upgrades include brand new windows, doors, walls, flooring, hoods, fans, exhaust, heating and cooling. The whole front of the building will be brand new, and Rudy’s will welcome guests with a fresh look.

Appleman said that some other major work includes expanding the indoor dining area by moving the side of the building five feet out, and rearranging the order counter to double the area. 

Normally, customers like to enjoy their food along the lake, but that’s not always something you can count on in Oswego this early in the season. According to Appleman, cold days in March and October inspired them to increase indoor seating.

Although Rudy’s wants to keep a portion of their renovations under wraps, that hasn’t kept them from sharing a few updates on Facebook with those eager customers wanting to get their first sandwich of the year. 

“You know, the customers are extended family. We get to see the same customers year, after year, after year and build a relationship with them,” Appleman said. “They build a relationship with us. We’ve known these people, and have served these people for decades and decades.”

One thing is for sure, no false spring will delay a reopening in roughly two weeks for Rudy’s most loyal customers.