ED Ventures LLC, which is operated by Robert Esche and business partner Alicia Dicks, operate Aqua Vino Restaurant & Catering at the Utica Historic Marina facility. Alicia Dicks said they hope the restaurant will be "a sophisticated, urban destination for the city of Utica."

"We want to capitalize on the waterfront and re-introduce people to the waterfront, so they can start to utilize it again," she said. "It's a great asset for the region that I think people forget exists."

Robert Esche has been an NHL goalie since 1999. The 29-year-old is a Westmoreland resident, Utica native and former Whitesboro and Notre Dame high school athlete. He is a "Mohawk Valley-grown sports celebrity that has an intense interest in reinvesting in this community."