Ribbon-cutting marks Harmony Inn renovations
HARMONY — The Harmony Inn, a historic restaurant and inn at 230 Mercer St., celebrated completion of its restoration project with a ribbon-cutting Sunday afternoon.
The 3 p.m. ceremony featured the debut of a new sign and highlighted recent improvements made to the building. The ribbon-cutting was performed by Bob and Jodi McCafferty, owners of the establishment.
The event included live music by local band, This, That and The Other Thing and a barbecue/pig roast on the patio, weather permitting.
The business paid for the improvements through a grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and American Express as part of the Backing Historic Small Restaurants initiative. The $40,000 grant was used to fund repairs to the soffit, exterior of the building and reglazing of windows.
The Harmony Inn was one of just 25 restaurants to receive the grant nationwide.
The Harmony Inn’s general manager, Julian McCommons said, “The application for the grant was in motion when I was hired in April 2022.
“The work began in mid- to late-2022 and just finished a few weeks ago,” McCommons said. “It did not affect the operations of the business. The inn was in full operation the entire time.”
The grant also paid for a new sign in the business’s front yard.
Independent small restaurants that have been in business for more than 25 years and that operate in historic buildings or neighborhoods are eligible to apply for the grants. Additionally, patrons can nominate their favorite establishments that fit the criteria for consideration.
McCommon said the Harmony Inn building was constructed in 1856 as a family home and was a hospital for tuberculosis patients before the restaurant and bar were added. The McCaffertys bought it in 2009 and added the building’s balcony.
Although the renovation work did not affect the operation of the Harmony Inn, the past year continued to pose challenges for restaurant owners nationwide as they navigated the effects of the pandemic, including the ebb and flow of foot traffic as new coronavirus variants emerged. According to the National Restaurant Association’s 2022 State of the Restaurant Industry, more than half of restaurant operators surveyed have indicated that it would be a year or more before business conditions return to normal.
To address these challenges, American Express again worked with the National Trust for Historic Preservation to bring back the Backing Historic Small Restaurant Grant Program, first launched in February 2021, to help small restaurants that have contributed to the fabric of their communities so they can better serve their customers, financially recover, and grow their businesses. The focus of the program will be on historic small restaurants that have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic.
“Historic restaurants have long been some of the most important establishments in our communities,” said Jennifer Skyler, chief corporate affairs officer at American Express. “They are places where families and friends gather, build relationships, share meals, and celebrate. While their future looks bright, many of these restaurants are still carrying the weight of the pandemic, and we are here to support them through this next phase of recovery.”
The National Trust for Historic Preservation, a privately funded nonprofit organization, works to save America’s historic places.
