Hotel Saxonburg’s closure a hit to community
SAXONBURG — Not only did Laura Hartshorn, of Cabot, visit Hotel Saxonburg almost every week with her family, more recently she has hosted meetings for her children’s Girl Scout troop at the historic eating establishment. The closing of the business Wednesday, March 5, put a damper on Hartshorn’s potential meetings there in the future, but also on the memories she had formed there since she was 4-years-old.
“It’s a classic spot,” Hartshorn said Saturday, March 8. “My dad was from West Virginia, so when he came up he would always stay in one of the rooms on the second floor there.”
The Hotel Saxonburg, 220 W. Main St. in Saxonburg, announced in a Facebook post Wednesday that it would permanently close its doors effective immediately. The post cited health issues, rising costs of food and growing expenses associated with maintaining the historic building as reasons for closing.
Annette Gervais and Lee Uncapher purchased the nearly 200-year-old business in August 2023, from Judy Ferree. The hotel was founded in 1832 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. The hotel was previously known as The Central Hotel and The Laune House.
Steven May, borough manager of Saxonburg, said Saturday that although the business’ closure was “quite abrupt,” he already has fielded calls from people expressing interest in the building, leading to some optimism that its reopening could happen quickly. He said the building was formally listed as for sale as of Friday.
Because the building is on the National Register of Historic Places, its facade must remain the same as it always has — white siding and black exterior shutters intact. However, the interior can be renovated, and whatever takes up residence inside does not have to be a restaurant.
However, no matter the buyer, the sale has to be approved through the borough’s Historic Architectural Review Board, or HARB.
“On the outside, it will always look the way it looks,” May said. “We are looking for somebody to step in, and it can be anything. It doesn’t have to be a hotel.”
Although the building doesn’t have to be a hotel or restaurant, it may be the most popular option for people of the area, and even people from outside Butler County who visit Saxonburg for the shops.
Diane Carrieu, of Vandergrift, visited Saxonburg on Saturday with her friend for a “girls day.” She has been to Saxonburg and the Hotel Saxonburg many times, and was looking forward to taking her friend to the restaurant for its “amazing food.” The duo still went to Saxonburg to shop Saturday, but lost out on one of their destinations.
“She texted me and said, ‘Is our girls day ruined?’” Carrieu said. “I’m really annoyed. Every time I have come we have eaten there.”
Having a full-scale restaurant in the borough was a common desire for several people in Saxonburg on Saturday.
“We definitely need a restaurant,” said Andrea Hinds, of Sarver, who was manning the counter at the Kollection Company on Saturday. “It had ambiance. People drove down here from farther away than Butler to eat there.”
May commented that the Hotel Saxonburg has interest not only because it is on the National Register of Historic Places, but because of its place in popular culture. He said an episode of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood featured Hotel Saxonburg, where Fred Rogers constructs a cheese sandwich; and a team from Steel City Paranormal investigated the building in 2016.
People from around the world knew about the Hotel Saxonburg for its historical significance and Pittsburgh ties — Hartshorn knew it as a place to sit down to watch the annual Saxonburg Christmas parade in a warm environment.
“It was a classic place to sit and watch the Christmas parade through the window,” she said. “My mom and aunts went there for years. I hope someone takes it up.”
