Restaurants

she said, adding that the downtown location has been a tough draw for diners due to both reputation and the fact that there is not a lot to do downtown.

She said she has no plans to re- open anywhere else, and intends to sell the building in the future. She had once wanted to create upscale apartments on the upper floors of the building whose rent would supplement her retirement, but due to the financial state of the Bistro, that dream could never be realized.

Clark said that despite the tough times on Madison Street, she has fond memories of open mic nights at her bistro - where musicians could be seen practicing on the sidewalk - and the number of “awesome” people she met who lived downtown.

Despite some good memories, “it has been a constant battle,” she said.

There will be a bit of a “to do” on June 27 as the doors close, Clark said. More details will soon roll out.

Their website can be viewed at: www.laviebohemebistro.com.

Bailey’s Restaurant at 153 Madison St. recently closed for two weeks and is slated to reopen on Monday. New hours will be seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a whole new menu, featuring a Jamaican- style array of f lavors, said owner Tonya Bailey.

“We went down to Jamaica and came back with a bunch of new ideas to try out,” said Bailey.

The restaurant, which opened last November, specialized in fresh- cooked comfort fare. While the new menu will still feature cooked- on- the- spot food using locally- sourced in- gredients, entrees will include chicken, goat, fish and pork dishes with a Carribean flare.

“There will be fish every day,” she said. “Not just on Fridays.”

There will also be oxtail and red bean soups, she said.

Bailey said that while she is aware of the character of the neighborhood, and that other business owners and residents have had problems on the street, she hasn’t had any issues yet.

She feels that as business owners, “we’re responsible to set the tone for the street.” She has asked diners to not smoke in front of her door, but to go to a nearby alleyway. She also said she is saddened by the drugs and violence now becoming common in the area.

She admits her restaurant has not done as well financially as she would like it to, so she is trying some- thing new.

Despite the challenges of her new business, she said she is shutting down negative thoughts that might pop in to her head, and she does see hope in Oneida’s future.

“I just ask everyone to hold on,” she said.

For information about Bailey’s Restaurant, visit: www.baileyshg.com.

Madison Street has seen its share of changing eateries since the beginning of the year. In February, Napoleon Café at the corner of Main and Madison streets reopened under the new ownership of Jim and Melanie Burdick, who revamped the business following its closure in late 2013. The café has been a nearly three- decades-long fixture of Oneida.

On Wednesday, Oneida City Planning Director Cassie Rose said she has not heard of any new businesses going to Madison Street.