Erie's Bayfront Grille at the Sheraton to close for renovations, changes to menu, more

A facelift for the Bayfront Grille, part of an ongoing renovation of the Sheraton Erie Bayfront Hotel, will begin soon.

The restaurant will close Jan. 2.

When the Bayfront Grille reopens, most likely at the end of March, it's expected to have a new name and an updated menu along with a new bar, table configuration, furniture, dishes, glasses and silverware.

That's according to Daniel Pora, general manager of the hotel.

New menu, new restaurant

Pora, who anticipates what he calls a coastal bistro-style menu with a focus on seafood, said the Bayfront Grille will also add grab-and-go service for homemade breakfast items as well as desserts and salads.

Plans to reinvent the restaurant, which also features outdoor dining, are only one aspect of a larger plan to remake the 200-room hotel.

A work in progress

Renovations, which Sheraton properties are required to do every seven years, are being done floor-by-floor, Pora said.

"Right now, about 50% of the rooms have been completed," he said.

This is the second renovation for the hotel, which was built in 2008. The first round focused on soft goods, including carpeting and interior fabrics.

This time around, the focus is on furniture, desks, flooring, fixtures and new, larger televisions.

Reaction from staff and guests has been positive, Pora said.

"The rooms are very bright. There's a lot of oak wood, colors and ports to plug in phones," Pora said. "People feel very productive. The room is really lively."

Preparing for a full house

Renovations are expected to be complete in advance of April 8, when a total solar eclipse is expected to be visible in Erie on what some believe will be the largest single-day tourism event in Erie County history.

And like most hotels in the region, the Sheraton is expecting a big day.

"We've been sold out for months," Pora said. "Most everyone has."

Funding for the project

The Sheraton, overseen by Erie Events, is one of two publicly financed hotels under the Erie Events umbrella. The other is the Courtyard Erie Bayfront Hotel.

Marriott International, which mandates that upgrades be made, is contributing $2 million toward the work.

The rest of the work will be funded by reserve funds.

"That money comes directly from the hotel," Pora said. "Every sale that we make, a portion goes into a capital reserve fund."

More: The Sheraton Erie Bayfront Hotel is getting a $7.5 million upgrade. Here's why.

Pora said he's pleased to see the hotel join a relatively small number of Sheraton properties to receive this particular upgrade.

"It's really good for the hotel, the city and the brand," he said. "It's good to have an investment."

Contact Jim Martin at jmartin@timesnews.com.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Bayfront Grille in Erie PA to close for renovations