Popular Royston Eatery Set to Re-open in January

It’s been a long hard road to rebuilding the Old Corner Hardware Store restaurant in Royston, but owner Kelley Tamplin says there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Recently, Tamplin posted photos on her Facebook page of the progress that’s been made so far in rebuilding the building that housed the popular lunch spot.

On Monday, she said they’re hoping to re-open by the end of January.

“We’ll be open by late January provided all my equipment comes in. We pretty much completed it except for painting and aesthetic stuff. The dining room is completely done. In the kitchen, we’re waiting on the equipment and then that will be done. Really, we’re in the final few weeks,” she said.

The entire building that housed the Old Corner Hardware Store had smoke damage in August when the building next door burned.

Initially, Tamplin thought a good scrubbing and new paint would fix the damage but the smoke had permeated every part of the building and everything had to be torn out and replaced.

We had to remove everything from the roof to all new A/C units, ductwork. We had to take down our old tin ceiling, which meant we had to take down all our wiring and put in all new wiring, all new plumbing, all new painting, sheetrock, everything. Even the bathroom completely down to the walls. We lost all of our toilets, sinks and fixtures. So we really, truly had to start completely over,” she explained.

In the restoration process, Tamplin said she’s been careful to do a restoration, instead of a renovation, to bring the building and restaurant back to the way people remember it.

“We tried to maintain the original look. I feel like for the six years we were open we really created memories and a sense of feeling like you’re at home and I didn’t want that feeling to change,” she said. “But I also want it to be recognizable for the older people in our community who grew up going in there…Plus,  I just want it to be authentic to the building.”

Additionally, the two apartments above the restaurant also had to be gutted and rebuilt.

Tamplin said it will be at least February they can be rented out again.