Mayville Diner Owner Charged With Arson

MAYVILLE – The owner of the Mayville Diner has been charged with arson in the case of a fire that destroyed the historic restaurant last week.

The Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office arrested and charged Michael Ellis, 40, with third-degree arson, a class C felony, on Tuesday morning.

Ellis was arraigned under the centralized arraignment program. Deputies say he was released due to the new bail reform laws of New York State.

Ellis will be directed to appear in court at a later date.

Historian Devon Taylor says the historic dining car was built at a factory in Silver Creek before it was shipped to Mayville in the early 1950s. Since then, the building has been renovated several times.

“Mayville has changed a lot since the 1950s,” said Taylor. “The diner has been there, its been an important location where everyone came to meet.”

Taylor says this was not the first fire the location, although, most were minor.