The Ice Hutch, a 56,000-square-foot facility encased in a bubble, is the place to go for learn-to-skate programs, public skating and youth hockey. Business at the Mount Vernon facility has held steady despite the economy and an expansion will help transform more of the Sandford Boulevard corridor of the city, a commercial district that includes retailers such as Target and Best Buy.
“We want to build a second rink because we”™re actually bursting at the seams,” said Ed Witz, manager and part-owner of The Ice Hutch, which opened in 1997. “Basically, we”™re completely sold out for the year, every year, and there”™s a lot more interest from people who are not customers yet, but are looking to get involved. Especially with the ice rink at New Roc City closing, that kind of puts a little bit more pressure ”“ good pressure ”“ on us.”
The solution will come in the form of a new $3.7 million, 30,000-square-foot building that will house a second rink behind The Ice Hutch”™s batting cages.
Project manager Anthony Cucinello, president of New Rochelle-based 4V Construction, estimated construction will take a year.
But first, financing must come through.
“We started planning this four years ago, and with the economy being what it was, things kind of slowed down a little bit,” Witz said.
The Ice Hutch is located on city property.
“We have approvals from the city, but we don”™t have our permits yet,” said Ralph Merigliano, founder and owner of The Ice Hutch. “We have a new lease from the city, and they know what we”™re going forward with, but we have to secure the rest of the financing before we go for the permits.”
Merigliano said the financing process has been going on almost a year.
“A major part was getting the long-term lease, because all the banks that we dealt with wanted to make sure we had a long-term lease, so we should be hearing something soon,” Merigliano said.
The new lease, which is a 25 year extension, expires on July 31, 2033.Â
“Since I took office, a major focus of my administration has been to improve the quality of our recreational facilities,” said Mount Vernon Mayor Clinton I. Young Jr. “The Ice Hutch has now made a commitment to making a substantial upgrade at Hutchinson Field, which will dramatically expand recreation opportunities in the area and give a needed boost to the economy of the Sandford Boulevard corridor. This is a big win on multiple fronts for the city of Mount Vernon.” Â
Witz said The Ice Hutch co-sponsors a learn-to-skate program with the city as well as hosts city recreation camps over the summer. Public school students also have access to the rink and batting cages.
Other customers include Catholic High School League ice hockey, youth ice hockey and public high school ice hockey teams.
The Ice Hutch has donated “a tremendous amount of ice over the last 12 years” to the city”™s recreation program. When the financial crunch hit the Mount Vernon school system”™s sports programs, The Ice Hutch donated to the “save our schools” campaign.
“We have hockey camps in the summer, so we”™re busy all year round,” Witz said. “The demand is still there, but customers are a little bit more cautious than they used to be. We”™ve got people who would lock up ice for a long period of time during the course of the year and not worry about it if they didn”™t use it all. Now they”™re watching it a little bit more carefully.”
Merigliano said The Ice Hutch is a casual atmosphere where customers feel comfortable: “For a lot of people, this is their second home, and a lot of them are here more than I am.”
“We kind of pride ourselves on the fact that we”™re just regular guys, and you can always come and talk to the manager or the owner anytime,” Witz said.
