SUSTAINABILITY
"The Silo is committed to taking responsibility and doing our part to gradually reduce our carbon footprint and dependency on one-use plastics."
DID YOU KNOW?
"Plastic straws are the 11th most commonly found ocean trash and it takes up to 200 years for a plastic straw to decompose."1
OUR HISTORY
Excerpted from About Us
Our story begins in the 1930’s, back when this area was referred to as the ”Hojack Country.” The waterfront was bustling and alive with tourists visiting by the thousands, traveling the Great Gorge Railway. The Lewiston Silo was home to the coal that fueled these steamers, and played an important role in housing the fuel that kept the waterfront alive. The waterfront became a hub of great activity, and locals set up stands to sell souvenirs and novelty items to visitors.
Sadly, with the demise of the Great Gorge Railway in 1938, the construction of a superhighway to Toronto, and excessive pollution strangling the river, the waterfront activity declined. An ice jam destroyed the terminal and The Silo sat alone, baring witness to the piling of sand dredged from the river bottom and the quiet sounds of pigeons roosting in the top of the decaying superstructure.
"The Silo Restaurant" opened its doors in April of 1998 and 30 days later Richard Hastings handed the keys over to his son Alan believing he had the energy and foresight to take the refreshment stand to new heights. Repurposing the abandoned coal silo was just the start - Alan has remained committed to carrying his vision of sustainability and environmental responsibility through the all aspects of the restaurant’s operations. With recycled tables, seating, and countertops, along with the repurposed train caboose now serving as an ice cream stand, The Silo Restaurant continues its efforts save our planet.
OUR MISSION
REPURPOSE
We utilize existing structures and materials, instead of building new, to repurpose what would’ve otherwise been discarded.
SOURCE
Sustainability takes the forefront in our supplier selection – we strive to use the most ethically sourced, and biodegradable products.
CONVERT
We recycle our fryer oil into bio-diesel to power our Catering Truck.
REDUCE
We offer reusable tumblers, for use all season, to further reduce the paper waste for our loyal customers.
RENEW
We are exploring options for Hydro Electric Power Generation, Solar Panels, and Commercial Composting.
CLEAN UP
Our employees “Silo Sweep" the park twice a day and pick up any garbage and recyclables around the waterfront
and restaurant.
REPLACE
We’ve switched to biodegradable paper cups, straws, and take-out bags – which breakdown in 1/50,000th the time of their plastic counterparts.4
RECYCLE
We encourage our customers to recycle what they can, including all cans and bottles with bins around the restaurant.
REUSE
We source our countertops, tables, and seating from recycled materials.
YOU CAN HELP!
Skip the lid and straw!
When ordering a beverage, considering skipping the plastic lid and paper straw.
Although our paper straws are biodegradable, sipping straight from the cup can further eliminate waste.
