SUSTAINABILITY

"The Silo is committed to taking responsibility and doing our part to gradually reduce our carbon footprint and dependency on one-use plastics."

DID YOU KNOW?

"Plastic straws are the 11th most commonly found ocean trash and it takes up to 200 years for a plastic straw to decompose."1

OUR HISTORY

Excerpted from About Us

Our story begins in the 1930’s, back when this area was referred to as the ”Hojack Country.” The waterfront was bustling and alive with tourists visiting by the thousands, traveling the Great Gorge Railway. The Lewiston Silo was home to the coal that fueled these steamers, and played an important role in housing the fuel that kept the waterfront alive. The waterfront became a hub of great activity, and locals set up stands to sell souvenirs and novelty items to visitors.

Sadly, with the demise of the Great Gorge Railway in 1938, the construction of a superhighway to Toronto, and excessive pollution strangling the river, the waterfront activity declined. An ice jam destroyed the terminal and The Silo sat alone, baring witness to the piling of sand dredged from the river bottom and the quiet sounds of pigeons roosting in the top of the decaying superstructure.

Although the waterfront was once again breathing new life and new energy after a rebirth in 1978, the old coal silo still sat empty. A constant query was what should be done with "The Silo" that had once supplied the steamers with fuel. The answer came in the Spring of 1997 when Mr. Richard Hastings of Youngstown approached the Village of Lewiston trustees with a vision to convert the silo into a refreshment stand. Encouraged by Mayor Richard Soluri and using his own funds, he devised a plan which included building a platform which encircled the entire structure to create seating for his customers.

"The Silo Restaurant" opened its doors in April of 1998 and 30 days later Richard Hastings handed the keys over to his son Alan believing he had the energy and foresight to take the refreshment stand to new heights. Repurposing the abandoned coal silo was just the start - Alan has remained committed to carrying his vision of sustainability and environmental responsibility through the all aspects of the restaurant’s operations. With recycled tables, seating, and countertops, along with the repurposed train caboose now serving as an ice cream stand, The Silo Restaurant continues its efforts save our planet.

OUR MISSION

Given the Niagara River’s impact on our history, and our love for the planet –

The Silo is committed to taking responsibility and doing our part to gradually

reduce our carbon footprint and dependency on one-use plastics.

The Silo Restaurant is developing a plan to be virtually waste-free by 2025.

REPURPOSE

We utilize existing structures and materials, instead of building new, to repurpose what would’ve otherwise been discarded.

SOURCE

Sustainability takes the forefront in our supplier selection – we strive to use the most ethically sourced, and biodegradable products.

CONVERT

We recycle our fryer oil into bio-diesel to power our Catering Truck.

REDUCE

We offer reusable tumblers, for use all season, to further reduce the paper waste for our loyal customers.

RENEW

We are exploring options for Hydro Electric Power Generation, Solar Panels, and Commercial Composting.

CLEAN UP

Our employees “Silo Sweep" the park twice a day and pick up any garbage and recyclables around the waterfront

and restaurant.

REPLACE

We’ve switched to biodegradable paper cups, straws, and take-out bags – which breakdown in 1/50,000th the time of their plastic counterparts.4

RECYCLE

We encourage our customers to recycle what they can, including all cans and bottles with bins around the restaurant.

REUSE

We source our countertops, tables, and seating from recycled materials.

YOU CAN HELP!

Our loyal customers are always looking for ways they can help the environment

and our sustainability mission.

When you dine at The Silo, please consider the following:

Skip the lid and straw!

When ordering a beverage, considering skipping the plastic lid and paper straw.

Although our paper straws are biodegradable, sipping straight from the cup can further eliminate waste.

Sources: get-green-now.com 1 / conservation.org 2 / epa.gov 3 / greenandgrowing.org 4