Cherished local haunt The Granary to reopen May 15

After a two-year hiatus and a change of ownership, much-loved local haunt and Swiss restaurant The Granary will reopen on Saturday, May 15.

The building, originally a grain barn built sometime in the late 19th century, has been undergoing a series of major renovations in recent months, both to restore its original character and update its structural elements.

"These are all new walls, insulated on the inside, but I wanted to keep the beams, the country atmosphere that makes it special," said The Granary's new owner and operator, Lisa Scherer, during a visit of the premises last week. "There are lots of stories from here - everybody has stories."

The Swiss-born Scherer, a longtime resident of the region and a former regular at the old Granary, first considered buying and renovating the establishment after its former owner closed it in late 2007. The location, she recalled, has been in service under various owners since about 1978.

"It was for sale, and I always thought it would be a shame - because of the good times - to let it simply rot away," she said. "So before I bought the place, I went to see a building inspector to see if it would be possible to renovate. You can't make 'old' out of 'new.'"

Scherer thus bought the location back in May 2008, though the renovations and reconstruction would only begin in October 2009; in the meantime, there were design preparations to consider and building permits to obtain. Yet due to the recent mild weather, the restaurant's new cement floor was poured this past winter season.

"Imagine that," she laughed. "In Canada, we actually poured cement on January 28."

The soon-to-be-reopened Granary Swiss Restaurant will feature the barn's original wood beams along with bright, wood-framed windows and an outdoor patio. An open layout indoors allows for several dinner tables, a semi-circle bar, and a piano and live music space, while an open kitchen rests in a back corner. The cement floors will be heated.

While there are plans to add a second, southwest-facing patio at a later date, the property is built on five acres of land that should delight guests, said Scherer. The new restaurant will welcome both families and individuals, offering a variety of European cuisine and summertime barbeques and salads.

In addition to live music evenings, Scherer would like to see The Granary relive its regular Friday night get-togethers, where friends or strangers can "just have some laughter" together for a couple of hours.

"I want to have a fun place where you can go and relax, eat and drink," she added.

The Granary's location - between Vankleek Hill and St-Eugene and at the intersection of County Road 10 and Highway 417 - means that many of her patrons will likely do so.

"For some reason, because it's between the two towns and near the highway, lots of people end up here," she laughed, adding people have already begun knocking at the door, eager to find out about the official opening date.

The owner notes, however, that the restaurant simply could not have been restored and reopened without the help of the local community: "They supported me - contractors, electricians, landscapers, plumbers - and all the neighbours have been really great. They keep saying, 'When are you opening? We miss the place!'"

"It's a feeling that you're on the right track. That kind of support, you can't get that anywhere else."

The Granary, located at 3270 County Road 10, will be open Thursdays to Sundays from lunch until closing, and businesses and organizations are welcome to reserve the restaurant for conferences or meetings.

The official opening, on Saturday, May 15, will feature the music of Terry Gillespie.