Copyright syracuse.com
Four years after she fulfilled a dream by opening a Jamaican food stand in downtown Syracuse’s Salt City Market, Latoya Ricks is ready to expand. Ricks plans to open a full-service Jamaican restaurant and bar called Erma’s Bistro by the end of next month. It’s at 325 S. Clinton St. in Armory Square, the location that was occupied by the Modern Malt diner until it closed in February. Erma’s Bistro is a spinoff of Erma’s Island, which Ricks opened with her mother, Gloria McCubbin, in 2021. It was one of the Salt City Market’s original food stall vendors. “It’s exciting to think that we can do so much more,” said Ricks, who emigrated from Jamaica at age 19 and found her first job in Syracuse working at a McDonald’s on Erie Boulevard. “There’s so much good food that we haven’t been able to do yet.” Erma’s Island will continue to operate as usual at the market. Everything at Erma’s Bistro will be bigger than the market stand, which occupies a small behind-the-counter space with a cooktop as one of 10 market vendors. The new space has a full kitchen, full-service bar and seating for about 70, said Collin Townsend, who is the restaurant’s general manager. The bistro menu is still a work in progress, but will feature Erma’s Island favorites such as ‘Rasta Pasta,’ Jerk Chicken, Jamaican beef patties and more. “But we will be adding some things,” Ricks said. “It’s great to be able to share more.” The bistro will also serve brunch on Saturdays and Sundays, so there will be new items like Shrimp ‘N Grits and Jerk Chicken Waffles, she said. The bar will have 10 beer taps and a full line of spirits and cocktails, including some “Jamaican-inspired” rum drinks, Townsend said. The bistro will also offer what Ricks calls “some of the favorites” from the Modern Malt bunch menu. (The Modern Malt weekend brunch, by the way, has moved down the street to the Sassy Cuse Saloon at the corner of Clinton and East Fayette streets). Robb Bidwell, who owns the Modern Malt property (and is co-owner of Sassy Cuse) said he looks forward to the arrival of Erma’s Bistro. “They’re great people and they’ve obviously has success at the market,” he said. “They’re going to be good for Armory Square and bring in some diversity.” Ricks’ expansion continues a pattern for the Salt City Market to launch some of its vendors to standalone business. That includes the Cake Bar stand, whose owner Duyên Nguyễn has another location downtown, the Cake Bar cafe at 252 W. Genesee St. She will also soon open a new place, Tea House by Cake Bar, at 108 E. Washington St. Another original Salt City Market vendor, Dreamer Glen of Miss Prissy’s soul food, continues to work on her plan to open a standalone restaurant at 431 S. Warren St. She closed her outlet at the market.
