Dawn Manor Restaurant, Bar & Speakeasy

The Dawn Manor Restaurant demanded technical ingenuity, rapid coordination, and an unwavering commitment to safety. Mobilized in March 2024 and completed in May 2025, the 14-month schedule was fast-tracked for a reconstruction of this scale and complexity. Holtz Builders self-performed 59% of the build, completing the job with zero recordable incidents despite harsh weather, bluffside challenges, and owner-driven design revisions. Key challenges included routing kitchen exhausts through redesigned trusses, constructing a 35-foot retaining wall to stabilize the parking lot that’s set into the bluff, and installing Holtz Builders’ first underground stormwater system—a sustainable green infrastructure solution protecting local water resources. The project also required close coordination with local authorities for safety during high-traffic times and concrete pours, as well as with the owner’s design team on frequent layout changes. Another defining feature was the integration of the original 1855 Potsdam sandstone, carefully preserved and reinstalled into the new build. Salvaged block by block, this material ties the restaurant directly to its historic roots while being supported by modern framing, mechanical systems, and finishes. Through innovation, collaboration, and perseverance, Dawn Manor was reborn as a one-of-a-kind restaurant, bar, and speakeasy that honors its heritage while meeting twenty-first-century hospitality needs.