Pictured are Christopher Lynn and Lisa Mendell outside the Nic-L-Inn. The restaurant, which has been closed for about two years, reopened its doors in April. Submitted photo

Christopher Lynn’s first job as a 15-year-old was washing dishes at the Nic-L-Inn. Now that he runs the town of South Valley restaurant, he hopes others will feel equally as nostalgic with its recent reopening.

“We want people to know that we want to keep the same traditions of Nick and Linda while we also bring our own take,” said Lynn, referring to previous owners, Nick and Linda Andriaccio.

Located at 12045 Bone Run Road, the Nic-L-Inn had been closed for about two years. The Andriaccios sold the restaurant in 2015 to a Texas couple before it ended up in the hands of Lynn Development.

Now at the helm, Lynn said he envisions the Nic-L-Inn as a destination for weddings, anniversaries, reunions and Christmas parties while also promoting an indoor and outdoor area to draw everyday customers.

Helping Lynn with relaunching the restaurant has been Lisa Mendell, whom he met while she worked as a bartender in Ellicottville. Mendell now manages the Nic-L-Inn.

“I’ve worked in food service most of my life,” Mendell said. “I have lots of experience in the hospitality industry.”

The restaurant, which officially reopened April 5, has deep roots in the community.

In the spring of 1980, Nick and Linda Andriaccio purchased what was then named the Lucky Dollar. Linda Andriaccio had said the restaurant started out as a run-down log cabin that was preceded by Mooney’s Tavern and later The Lucky Dollar. Back then, the road was the main thoroughfare between Jamestown and Bradford, and the former Red Wing Restaurant, near the marina, was the only eating establishment within 10 miles.

The couple changed the establishment’s name to the Nic-L-Inn — the roots of which came from their names and, coming from Buffalo, they chose the Buffalo nickel as their logo.

A profile of the Andriaccios and their history with the restaurant were detailed in a July 2015 article in The Post-Journal. In their first 10 years of ownership, the pair renovated the Nic-L-Inn, expanding seating from 50 people to 150. They also expanded the size of the outdoor dining area.

Regarding their staff, Linda Andriaccio said, “I feel blessed, I mean really blessed, to have the employees we’ve had over the years because I am well-aware that you don’t do this on your own. You need people that you can trust to do the right thing and act as your agent to keep your customers serviced and happy.”

In the summer of 2015, and after 35 years of ownership, Nick and Linda Andriaccio sold the restaurant.

“It’s been a lot of hard work, but what isn’t that’s worth anything. I mean, anything worth having, you going to work for it,” Linda Andriaccio said shortly after selling the restaurant. “I don’t regret the hard work at all — even the time and the hours we’ve been here because I think we’ve been very fortunate. I can’t count the number of friends we’ve made through the years. It’s beyond measure.”

Lynn said his first job as a teen was working for the Andriaccios.

“When Nick and Linda left, it was hard for them,” he said. “Their whole life was there. You’d hear stories from people on how meaningful the place was.”

Lynn and Mendell hope to recapture that gusto with a familiar atmosphere while also providing new offerings, including an updated menu for the fall.

“We want this place to be not just for a special occasion, but we want it to be for special occasions,” Mendell said.

The Nic-L-Inn currently is open from 4-9 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays; private bookings also are available. The establishment can be found on Facebook by searching “The Nickel Restaurant.”