April 15th 2008
Richard Gere’s New Inn To Feature Geothermal, Recycled Materials
Filed under: buildings and construction, cars-houses — michael @ 10:01 am
Actor Richard Gere is placing the final touches on a new restaurant/inn in Bedford, NY called the Bedford Post Inn. The 56-year-old purchased the property — which features several 18th century buildings — last year with a business partner. Spread over 14 acres, Gere’s new venture will feature a cafe/bakery, formal restaurant, multipurpose rooms for private parties, community events and yoga classes, stables for horse riding, and 8 suites for overnight guests.
Plans also include a geothermal HVAC system, recycled beams and materials, an on-site garden and a focus on locally produced food sourced from the area’s small farms. Gere can expect some celebrity clientèle from time to time as well — as Bedford is where Martha Stewart, Ralph Lauren and Glenn Close all own homes.
Of course, Gere’s new project is not without its detractors. Most recently, neighbors complained about the ‘eyesore’ parking lot for the restaurant — prompting Gere to erect a an 18 foot long, five foot high cedar fence. Now, people claim the fence is spoiling their view — and the town zoning committee has declared that it must be torn down because it violates height limits. Unfazed, the partners are planning to comply, with Gere’s business partner Russell Hernandez saying, “If they say you have to have a four-foot fence, then that’s what we’ll do.”
Look for the Inn to open this summer. The bakery/cafe is open now.
Good news, baby Ecos (that’s you)! 
