Will eviction clear way for sale of Crescent Beach to Greece developer?

Listen to this article

The recent ordered eviction of a holdover tenant on a residential property adjacent to Crescent Beach restaurant may pave the way for the sale and rebirth of the one-time landmark property.

Jay Wegman, managing partner of real estate development firm Wegman Companies, is mentioned as a potential buyer in the latest receiver’s report filed in federal court involving the civil and criminal cases against restaurateur Katherine Mott Formicola.

Mark R. Kercher reported to the U.S. District Court in Rochester on Tuesday that between April and the start of this week, several hours of his time as receiver were spent on finalizing the Crescent Beach sale.

That involved assisting in the drafting a sale agreement, reviewing a revised offer from the potential buyer, signing off on the draft of a purchase and sale agreement in late July and then, on Aug. 21, “meeting with J. Wegman at Crescent Beach regarding property condition and other matters.”

Wegman did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Wegman Companies is headquartered in the town of Greece and owns and manages various residential, senior living and commercial properties.

Five Star Bank filed a civil suit against Mott in March of 2024, alleging her elaborate check-kiting scheme cost the financial institution $19 million. Criminal charges soon followed, and in December Mott pleaded guilty in federal court to financial institution fraud and money laundering.

Part of the plea agreement included forfeiture of Crescent Beach and adjacent properties, which she and her business partners purchased through 11 Wexford Glen, LLC, in the fall of 2023.

The intention was to renovate and then reopen the venue, which for decades was a cherished Greece dining locale on Edgemere Drive along the shores of Lake Ontario. The restaurant at 1372 Edgemere Dr. has been closed since 2012.

Construction crews were in the process of redeveloping the property when the court cases prompted a halt to all activities at the site.

Kercher’s report said there has been a holdover tenant on the residential property at 1406 Edgemere Dr., which also was purchased by 11 Wexford Glen in 2023.

Kercher said he was personally involved in the eviction trial, which took place Monday in Greece Town Court. The property was awarded to 11 Wexford Glen and a warrant was issued for the removal of the tenant, his report says.

Mott and her partners are the second buyers of Crescent Beach to dream big but fall short. A Canadian group that for a time included former Buffalo Sabres forward Zenon Konopka failed to revive the property a decade ago and put it back up for sale in 2019.

Because of her guilty plea, Mott faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a fine of $1 million on the criminal charges. But her sentencing has twice been postponed, indicating she very likely is cooperating with authorities on other matters related to the case.

Two other Mott venues, Monroe’s Restaurant in Pittsford and The Wintergarden event venue in downtown Rochester, have new owners.

[email protected]/(585) 653-4020