A Jefferson City grill has been closed since Valentine's Day. A sign on the door reads "Reopening soon." Inside, the space is getting a small face-lift, new floors will be going in next week, new paint gives the space some pizzazz, and other small cosmetic changes are breathing new life into an old space.
Previous owners Gloria Vogt and Lisa Castillo will reopen Towne Grill by mid-April. Ryan and Stacey Butler purchased the local restaurant about five years ago, but Vogt and Castillo are more than happy to take it back.
"Stacey and Ryan did a good job keeping it going," Vogt said, noting she's excited to be back at it.
The historic grill has been serving Jefferson City customers for more than 70 years. Vogt and Castillo were the third owners, after Mel Erhardt and Fred Boeckman, when they purchased the restaurant nearly 28 years ago.
The pair plans to bring back all the customer favorites including the "home-cooked brains and scrambled eggs, famous pancakes and blue-plate specials."
"We're excited and anxious," Vogt said. "It's going to be as fresh as it always was."
Cooking up those grill classics will be cooks George and Irma.
"We're trying to get Aggie back," Vogt noted. "And Lu will be back."
Aggie Schwartz waited tables at the historic grill since she was just a teenager, and retired after 38 years there.
Customers missing their morning favorites can find hope in knowing the historic downtown eatery and the friendly faces everyone's used to will be back in business soon. The owners hope to host a grand reopening later in the year, with goodies and fun for all.
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