Historic Granville Inn Re-Opening after Renovations
GRANVILLE (Lu Ann Stoia) -- After nine months of renovations, the historic Granville Inn will re-open this week.
Tuesday evening the chef is preparing a "practice meal" in the dining room. That's happening as the finishing touches are being made on such things as floors, landscaping, and furniture.
"She is just a glorious old girl, and we are just so happy to bring her back," said Charles Lagarce of Columbus Hospitality Management.
Denison University bought the struggling property in 2013 and have done $9 million worth of upgrades. CHM is spear-heading that work.
"We maintained and protected all of the woodwork in the building. So really what we did is give the building a new heart and lungs," said Legarce. "We refreshed the areas in terms of carpets and new guest rooms, those types of things."
The Inn will have 36 guest rooms and 3 suites.
Legarce said the Inn was a place for special occasions, and still will be with wedding facilities and a ballroom. "We really want it to be more of an everyday place for people so they can feel comfortable. We have a wonderful patio and wonderful fine dining restaurant, too."
The Inn managers said they are working with local companies on the construction, and partnering with others like Newkirk Spa and Salon and a bakery to provide services once the Inn is up and running.
The Buxton Inn across the street is also an historic treasure, and is known for fine dining and its storied ghosts. The Granville Inn said it has a ghost roaming the halls in the attic where now guest rooms are being rented out for the first time.
"That is where the ghost spent much of her time, and so I am not sure she's happy that we put nine guest rooms up there, so we will see how she reacts when we start putting guests in there Friday night," said Legarce.
The Inn had its roof raised and redone. "We have replaced 4,000 pieces of slate on the building, and there is all new copper throughout," said Legarce. "I think the hardest thing was every time we peeled the onion back we found something else we had to deal with."
The Granville Inn was originally built in 1924 by Jonathon Sulfin Jones.
