The former Ye Hare 'n Hounds Inn restaurant pictured Thursday in Bemus Point. Demolition on the Lakeside Drive building began this week. P-J photo by Eric Tichy

BEMUS POINT — Demolition has begun at the former Ye Hare ‘n Hounds Inn restaurant in Bemus Point.

Work to raze the property at 64 Lakeside Drive began earlier this week after permits were filed with the village. R. Patti Concrete and Excavating of Jamestown is handling the demolition; the property was recently sold to Tom Meyers, who also owns The Fish restaurant across the street.

The future of the lot remains unclear.

The iconic Ye Hare ‘n Hounds restaurant had been closed since a May 2017 fire caused by a deteriorated exhaust chimney pipe in the kitchen broke out. Dozens of firefighters from six departments helped douse the blaze.

Bemus Point Mayor Bryan Dahlberg said he recalled when a previous fire heavily damaged the restaurant decades earlier. He said the loss of the establishment has been a blow to the local community.

P-J photo by Eric Tichy

“It’s certainly a sad time,” said Dahlberg, who has been village mayor since 1998. “The building has been there forever. I was involved with the previous fire. This time it was beyond something that could be fixed. It’s a sad time.”

Leading up to the demolition, the Bemus Point Volunteer Fire Department used the former restaurant as training grounds for practice drills.

It’s unknown how long demolition will take or when the debris will be removed.

Dahlberg pointed out there are several activities planned in the village this summer, including the annual 3-on-3 basketball tournament in July. Also taking place will be the 20th annual Chautauqua Lake Twin Tier Chapter Antique and Classic Boat Show, beginning at 10 a.m. July 14 at the Casino docks and village park.

“With the summer season, the village has been quite busy,” Dahlberg said. “When the weather is nice we have a lot to offer.”