Salena’s restaurant owners take over The Market at I-Square
A key piece of Irondequoit’s ISquare development has new owners. Kelly and Aaron Metras, who also own Salena’s Mexican Restaurant in Village Gate Square, just bought The Market at I-Square from I-Square founders Mike and Wendy Nolan.
The terms were not disclosed. In 2023, the property at 400 Bakers Park was assessed at $1,585,000.
“We look forward to continuing to grow the dream the Nolans had for Irondequoit upon creating I-Square,” Aaron Metras said in a statement.
The rest of the 10-year-old development, which the Nolans will continue to operate, consists of The Imaginarium, an art and science educational center; craft brewery and restaurant Irondequoit Beer Co.; Brookside Cottages, rental homes for people 55 and older; an open lawn and stage; parking areas and maintenance buildings.
The first floor of The Market is a food court with five options: The Market Grill (American); The Reserve, a full-service bar offering comfort food; I-Scream, a year-round ice cream parlor; Hong Kong One, which serves Chinese food; and Fish Face, specializing in sushi and ramen.
The Metrases are exploring options for an additional counter service area.
Reached by phone, Aaron Metras said, “We plan on keeping the overall feel” of The Market, but at The Market Grill, the couple plans to put more of a focus on special dietary needs by offering more gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian options.
They also want to rework the menu at The Reserve bar.
“We haven’t totally decided what that will look like,” he said.
Hong Kong One and Fish Face are independent tenants.
The second floor of The Market building consists of the Irondequoit Conference Center, a 120-person event space with a full kitchen, and office space including Edward Jones Financial. The third floor is a seasonally accessible rooftop seating area.
Aaron Metras said he and his wife were first contacted by the Nolans last summer about working on some projects together, which led to talks about taking over The Market.
Said Mike Nolan in a statement: “Wendy and I are very excited to welcome Kelly and Aaron to the I-Square development. We feel that they will bring growth and innovation to the area while helping us achieve our vision of a vibrant town center in Irondequoit.”
Reporter Marcia Greenwood covers general assignments. Send story tips to mgreenwood@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @MarciaGreenwood.