Come May, a venerable Harrisburg watering hole is set to open with a new owner, look and name.
Adam Sturges said he expected to finalize the purchase of Garrason’s Tavern by the tail-end of March, renaming it The Speakeasy. A four-to-five week renovation will follow.
“There is much work I want to do,” Sturges said. “That building has a lot of history, so we want to bring it back to what it once was.”
Last month, the Harrisburg Architectural Review Board (HARB) granted unanimous approval for Sturges to make a number of property improvements, most notably returning the facade of the circa-1870 building to its historical state by removing the dingy, non-conforming plywood and plexiglass enclosure at the entranceway.
Sturges also plans to install an L-shaped awning on the south and west sides of the building, install a wrought iron handrail in front of the entrance, remove glass-block windows with plate glass windows, repair and replace brick masonry around the openings and repaint the brick facade and trimwork.
The 4,000-square-foot interior also would be completely renovated, Sturges said, with new floors, ceilings, a bar and tables.
Sturges plans an American-style menu, offering high-quality dining at reasonable prices. He said he will open the space for lunch to serve the large population of government workers across the street.
Originally, Sturges, long-time manager of McGrath’s Pub downtown, hoped to open The Speakeasy in November, but the lengthy bankruptcy of the previous owner, Hollywood Restaurant Group, delayed the process.
According to U.S. Bankruptcy Court records, Hollywood Restaurant Group, owned by Rob Fogleman since 2008, entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy in January 2011. Fogleman closed Garrason’s located at 400 Forster St., in December.
Before he can open, Sturges has to get one additional approval from HARB, which still must endorse his outside signage.
