Binghamton Hots, a restaurant located at 128 Washington Street in Downtown Binghamton, is entering its second year of operation. Owner David Whalen says he wanted to introduce the “hot plate” to Binghamton residents while also serving the burgeoning student population in Downtown Binghamton. Whalen hopes that Binghamton Hots continues to grow and thrive alongside the downtown area.
Whalen was compelled to open Binghamton Hots because he saw the
opening of two large, ambitious student housing projects in the area as a great
opportunity to tap into a new market. Whalen saw the influx of students to the downtown
area and realized there would be increased demand for “late-night food,” which
is Binghamton Hots’ specialty. Binghamton Hots’ signature menu item, the hot
plate, is inspired by the garbage plates of Rochester. “Garbage plates are huge
with students in Rochester,” states Whalen. When Whalen realized that few people
in the Binghamton area knew about garbage plates, he knew he needed to introduce
the phenomenon to Binghamton residents and its student population.
While Binghamton Hots is very popular among students, its target
population is not limited to people looking for a midnight snack; Binghamton
Hots is also open for lunch. “We see a lot of professionals who work downtown”
and come in for lunch, says Whalen. Binghamton Hots has many menu items and
portion sizes more suited for lunch. Despite the abundance of lunch options, Whalen finds that professionals often
opt to have the hot plate for lunch.
Downtown Binghamton is “prime real estate,” according to Whalen.
Part of the reason why Whalen chose to open a business in Binghamton was
because of the efforts the City of Binghamton is making to create a more
business-friendly environment. “We knew we could turn to them” for assistance,
Whalen opines. In addition, Whalen feels that Binghamton is being revitalized
and that “things are heading in the right direction.”
Whalen, a young Binghamton University alumnus who has lived in
the Binghamton area for most of his life, sees the potential for additional
growth in Binghamton. He believes that the combination of student housing,
First Friday events, permanent residents, and private investment will help
Binghamton spring forward and continue its development. Whalen also has high
hopes for his business; he sees an opportunity for exponential growth and hopes
that “we [Binghamton Hots] grow with downtown.”
