Downtown space long closed reopens in landmark Mizpah Tower
A long-dormant corner of downtown Syracuse is poised to return to public life. This week, The Mizpah — a wine bar and event venue occupying the original sanctuary space of the six-story Mizpah Tower at 350 Montgomery St. — held a ribbon-cutting reception ahead of a soft opening next week and a public opening on Saturday, July 18.
The project, led by entrepreneur and former Syracuse common councilor Mike Greene, is leasing the gothic structure from developer and attorney Tom Cerio. The tower, built in 1914, is a well-known element of the city skyline and has been empty for decades. City and county officials joined Greene at Wednesday’s reception, including Mayor Sharon Owens and Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon, as the space was shown to local business leaders and residents.
“It was a big, scary project. It took a lot of overcoming hurdles,” Greene said at the event. “But I think when people walk into this space, they’re really just kind of impressed with the old architecture.”
Hours, capacity and uses
The Mizpah will operate on a limited schedule at first. Greene said the bar plans to open:
- Wednesdays and Thursdays, 4 to 10 p.m.
- Fridays, 3 p.m. to midnight
- Open to the public beginning Saturday, July 18
He expects the venue to host events of 200 to 300 people on weekends, positioning the space for private receptions, weddings and larger gatherings in the downtown core.
Historic setting and local context
The Mizpah Tower’s ornate gothic architecture and its history — from sanctuary to concert space, and later a long period of vacancy and tax trouble — give the reopening a symbolic weight for downtown revitalization. Greene, who also owns Harvey’s Garden, framed the undertaking as a revival of an interior that many Syracuse residents have not seen in more than 30 years.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 350 Montgomery St., Syracuse |
| Public opening | Saturday, July 18 |
| Weekday hours | Wed–Thu 4–10 p.m.; Fri 3 p.m.–midnight |
| Event capacity (weekends) | 200–300 people (anticipated) |
| Building year | 1914 |
What this means for Syracuse
Reopening The Mizpah adds both hospitality capacity and a prominent event venue to downtown Syracuse. For residents and business owners, the change may translate into increased foot traffic on Montgomery Street and expanded options for gatherings without leaving the city center. Greene’s dual role as a restaurateur and former councilor links the project to existing local commercial networks, while the involvement of city and county leaders at the ribbon cutting highlighted public interest in reusing historic structures.
Visitors arriving for the soft opening and the public debut later this month can expect a focus on wine, sharable plates such as honey-drizzled brie and a setting that emphasizes the building’s restored interior architecture. Further programming, regular event scheduling and any changes to hours will be determined as the space settles into operation in the coming weeks.
