EC Fair to demolish Chiavetta's stand

HAMBURG, N.Y. (WIVB) - Chiavetta's Catering Service says the Erie County Agricultural Society has decided to demolish Chiavetta's landmark building on the Hamburg fairgrounds.

For more than 50 years, Chiavetta's Chicken has used the permanent building at the fair. But last month, one of the company's partners was called to a meeting of the Erie County Agricultural Society.

Peter Chiavetta said, "And he was told the building was coming down and there was no recourse on our part. Actually, they wanted us out of there by December 1st, but our lease isn't up until December 31st, and so we're holding out. Hopefully we'll get some public support to keep the building here."

President Dennis Lang says the Society wants Chiavetta's to stay in the same spot, but not in the permanent building because the NY State Lottery Building is also being taken down to widen the food court and parade route.

"We're not trying to kick anybody out. We're going to put a park area at the end of the newly renovated Firemen's Building for green space and more seating and more pergolas to make it more attractive for the guests," Lang said.

Lang also questions why Chiavetta's, which caters at different locations every weekend, needs this permanent building for once a year.

Chiavetta explained, "We service a lot of people everyday. The efficiency is already built into this building...the plumbing, the electric."

Chiavetta suspects the Society may be making way for an expansion of the Hamburg Casino, but Lang says that is not what's driving this decision.

"No sir, our profits from the Gaming Center are being put into agricultural mission of the fairgrounds," Lang stated.

The Ag Society actually owns the building in question, but Chiavetta's recently paid to replace the roof and Chiavetta's also gives about $50,000 of its profits to the Ag Society every year.