Laci’s Tapas Bar adds more parking, security measures

SYRACUSE — Laci’s Tapas Bar, a popular eatery located in Syracuse’s Hawley-Green neighborhood, has expanded its parking and is getting some help to boost the safety and security of customers using it.

“We just purchased a lot behind our restaurant to add more parking. And we’d just like to make that lot safer. It’s very dark,” says Cindy Seymour, who co-owns Laci’s with Laura Serway. Laci’s has about 24 employees, in addition to Seymour and Serway.

KeyBank (NYSE: KEY) has awarded Laci’s Tapas Bar a $5,000 grant to install security lighting and cameras around its property. The funding is part of Key’s 2018 “Small Business is Key” contest, the bank announced May 14. It awarded the money to Laci’s in part “for its commitment to Syracuse and the Central New York community.”

The new parking lot will add about 25 parking spaces to what Laci’s already has for parking, Seymour says. Laci’s employees and customers will use the additional spaces. The bar and restaurant is located at 304 Hawley Ave. in Syracuse. 

 “We want to light it up … can’t have too many cameras,” she says.

Laci’s hasn’t chosen a contractor to install the lighting and cameras, according to Seymour.

Serway and Seymour opened Laci’s Tapas Bar in July 2010. It offers chef-crafted tapas and an array of beer, wine, and cocktails. Tapas are snacks, canapés, or finger food that originated in Spain.

The $5,000 grant is one of 14 awarded to businesses throughout KeyBank’s footprint in recognition of Small Business Month.

“We’re thrilled to be able to recognize small businesses that positively impact our communities,” Gregory Riley, KeyBank relationship manager, said in a bank news release. “Laci’s has demonstrated their commitment to Syracuse and Central New York through their community driven focus and philanthropic efforts.”

Philanthropy

Serway and Seymour have “invested heavily” in their neighborhood, according to KeyBank. Since 2014, they’ve bought and restored a “handful” of boarded-up, vacant homes on Green Street. Their commitment to the Hawley-Green district has encouraged other businesses, such as Syracuse Soap Works and Thanos Import Market, to move to the area, the bank added.

Seymour also founded a nonprofit called Serenity for Women, which helps women who are facing day-to-day challenges or transitioning to life after the military. In 2017, she worked with the Rescue Mission of Syracuse to build two homes, the “first transitional housing built for homeless women veterans in the area,” per the release.

They started a fund at the Q Center at 617 W. Genesee St. in Syracuse. The center, a program of ACR Health, is described as “a safe place for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth, their families and allies to gather,” according to the ACR Health website. 

The fund, established in memory of a past employee at Laci’s, helps college students through the nonprofit ACR Health, located at 627 W. Genesee St. in Syracuse.

ACR Health is a community-based organization which provides support services for individuals with chronic diseases, including HIV/AIDS, diabetes, heart disease, obesity, substance-use disorders, and mental illness.

Seymour and Serway also host an annual anniversary party at Laci’s called the Giveback Celebration, which benefits a local nonprofit organization. The restaurant allows the public to choose the charity on Facebook and each winner has received an average of $14,000 in proceeds, according to the news release. 

Over the last seven years, Laci’s has given more than $100,000 to various local non-profits through its Giveback Celebration. This year’s event is scheduled for Aug. 16 at Laci’s. 

Laci’s Tapas Bar is regularly open Tuesday to Thursday from 4-10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 4-11 p.m. It is closed on Sunday and Monday. 

SYRACUSE — Laci’s Tapas Bar, a popular eatery located in Syracuse’s Hawley-Green neighborhood, has expanded its parking and is getting some help to boost the safety and security of customers using it.

“We just purchased a lot behind our restaurant to add more parking. And we’d just like to make that lot safer. It’s very dark,” says Cindy Seymour, who co-owns Laci’s with Laura Serway. Laci’s has about 24 employees, in addition to Seymour and Serway.

KeyBank (NYSE: KEY) has awarded Laci’s Tapas Bar a $5,000 grant to install security lighting and cameras around its property. The funding is part of Key’s 2018 “Small Business is Key” contest, the bank announced May 14. It awarded the money to Laci’s in part “for its commitment to Syracuse and the Central New York community.”

The new parking lot will add about 25 parking spaces to what Laci’s already has for parking, Seymour says. Laci’s employees and customers will use the additional spaces. The bar and restaurant is located at 304 Hawley Ave. in Syracuse. 

 “We want to light it up … can’t have too many cameras,” she says.

Laci’s hasn’t chosen a contractor to install the lighting and cameras, according to Seymour.

Serway and Seymour opened Laci’s Tapas Bar in July 2010. It offers chef-crafted tapas and an array of beer, wine, and cocktails. Tapas are snacks, canapés, or finger food that originated in Spain.

The $5,000 grant is one of 14 awarded to businesses throughout KeyBank’s footprint in recognition of Small Business Month.

“We’re thrilled to be able to recognize small businesses that positively impact our communities,” Gregory Riley, KeyBank relationship manager, said in a bank news release. “Laci’s has demonstrated their commitment to Syracuse and Central New York through their community driven focus and philanthropic efforts.”

Philanthropy

Serway and Seymour have “invested heavily” in their neighborhood, according to KeyBank. Since 2014, they’ve bought and restored a “handful” of boarded-up, vacant homes on Green Street. Their commitment to the Hawley-Green district has encouraged other businesses, such as Syracuse Soap Works and Thanos Import Market, to move to the area, the bank added.

Seymour also founded a nonprofit called Serenity for Women, which helps women who are facing day-to-day challenges or transitioning to life after the military. In 2017, she worked with the Rescue Mission of Syracuse to build two homes, the “first transitional housing built for homeless women veterans in the area,” per the release.

They started a fund at the Q Center at 617 W. Genesee St. in Syracuse. The center, a program of ACR Health, is described as “a safe place for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth, their families and allies to gather,” according to the ACR Health website. 

The fund, established in memory of a past employee at Laci’s, helps college students through the nonprofit ACR Health, located at 627 W. Genesee St. in Syracuse.

ACR Health is a community-based organization which provides support services for individuals with chronic diseases, including HIV/AIDS, diabetes, heart disease, obesity, substance-use disorders, and mental illness.

Seymour and Serway also host an annual anniversary party at Laci’s called the Giveback Celebration, which benefits a local nonprofit organization. The restaurant allows the public to choose the charity on Facebook and each winner has received an average of $14,000 in proceeds, according to the news release. 

Over the last seven years, Laci’s has given more than $100,000 to various local non-profits through its Giveback Celebration. This year’s event is scheduled for Aug. 16 at Laci’s. 

Laci’s Tapas Bar is regularly open Tuesday to Thursday from 4-10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 4-11 p.m. It is closed on Sunday and Monday.