Missing the Bresees Health Bar in Oneonta, NY

Walking by the old Bresees Department store yesterday, I was reminded of the wonderful lunches I used to enjoy at the Bresees Health Bar with my mom when I was in my early 20's.  They had the best grilled cheese sandwiches and pie anywhere!  I miss that place where you would always run into friends.

Above is a postcard of the Bresees Health Bar from 1980.  I love the slogan on the back: “When in Oneonta be sure to visit Bresees new Health Bar Restaurant, famous for fine foods and friendly service. Oneonta, N.Y. City of the Hills."

Bresees closed the Health Bar in 1994, along with most of the store.  The store was scaled down to just selling furniture and appliances and even that eventually closed.  Hope is on the horizon though with work being done on the Bresees building.  Developers promise a new Bresees building that will feature smaller shops which will fit right in with the current theme of the Downtown Oneonta experience.  I'm looking forward to that and enjoy seeing Downtown Oneonta begin to thrive again.