Galvagno of Pacific Properties leases space to Crooked Cattle in Armory Sq.

Syracuse, NY The newly opened Crooked Cattle in Armory Square is bringing more than just classic roast beef sandwiches back to downtown — it’s reshaping the use of public and private space with a notable commercial real estate deal. The restaurant has now converted the former Shot Clock Park at 290 W. Jefferson St. into an outdoor dining area, following a long-term lease agreement with the building’s owner.

The deal was brokered by Pacific Properties, Inc., with Joseph Galvagno representing the transaction. 

Crooked Cattle signed a 12-year lease for the space formerly occupied by Starbucks, and secured the exclusive right to use the adjacent park as outdoor seating. As part of the lease negotiation, the landlord provided a rent concession period — commonly known as free rent — in lieu of contributing to landlord-funded tenant improvements. This TI offset strategy helped make the deal pencil out, particularly given the extensive buildout required to accommodate the restaurant’s concept and outdoor activation.

The outdoor space, once home to the iconic 24-second shot clock monument, has been repurposed with city approval. The statue, a tribute to Syracuse native and NBA innovator Danny Biasone, has been relocated nearby to preserve its visibility while allowing Crooked Cattle to expand its footprint.

This kind of creative reuse of public-adjacent space is gaining popularity in urban cores where restaurant operators seek high-visibility, high-foot-traffic environments. While the space remains city-owned, the lease structure allows the tenant to program and operate the outdoor area as a semi-private extension of its premises, subject to municipal oversight.

Crooked Cattle’s parent company, led by restaurateur Matt Beach of Ale ‘n Angus Pub, aims to establish the concept as a cornerstone of Armory Square dining. The restaurant’s use of the park exemplifies a broader trend in retail lease structuring, where tenants secure premises control beyond the interior footprint to boost capacity and visibility.