Dave Neil and Mark Loewenguth have made it official: The Hoffman Lane Bistro is now theirs.

In late December, they closed the deal with long-time owner Bob Paul, who once ran The Terrace Cafe in the building. Now they have plans to enclose the outdoor terrace and create a year-round hub of local culture where people can listen to music, drink and eat the food for which the place has become well-known.

"We love the location," said Loewenguth, "and we want to make the place even more accessible. It's going to be a whole new realm. Everybody knows what happens here in the summer, but we want to take advantage of the shoulder months more. The community response has been great."

Taking advantage of the off-season means more options for the people who stick the winter out. The same way everybody knows what happens in the summer, the realities of winter don't escape anyone's attention, either. Places close and the village begins to resemble a ghost town at dusk.

"We want to have music, magicians, comedians, national and local acts. There's an unexplored niche there," said Neil.

Neil said that The Bistro has become a social hub. A variety of milestones like wedding rehearsal dinners, birthdays and engagements have taken place there. Enclosing the terrace will allow such functions greater privacy and permit other types of events, like fashion shows and retirement parties. The deck seats seventy, and they plan to keep it warm with radiant heat pads under hardwood floors and a fireplace.

"People can dance out there, meet, hang out. It will be like a community room with a full bar and food," Neil said. "Some restaurants are there so people can grab a quick bite, some are meant for fine dining. We've made it so that the Bistro is both and more. We also have a core group of people who have worked here from the beginning and help to make the place what it is."

This group includes Sherry Aufmuth and Ana Valmas of the wait staff and Eric Swart, sous chef. Loewenguth and Neil said that working with local kids has been rewarding also because some of them started off just looking for a summer job and then decided to pursue careers in the restaurant industry. One of their former dishwashers is currently a student at the Culinary Institute of America.

Both owners have worked hard to improve the aesthetics and function of 10 Hoffman Lane. Prior to their grand opening, they spent months renovating and painting the place. The photography of Milo Stewart Sr. and Jr. graces the walls. A string of beaded lanterns winds up the spiral staircase.

March 15 marks the start of their third year in business. Patrons have come to rely on their mission statement to serve the community first, and soon they'll be enjoying the fruits of that successful goal in an enclosed patio.