Life is being breathed back into the former Adair Furniture buildings in the downtown, with a Cassano’s Pizza franchise preparing to open there this month, along with a Hershey’s ice cream parlor that looks out over an interior open-air courtyard.
“I think it’s going to be a really comfortable atmosphere. You come in, and sit and eat and talk and have a good time. That’s what we were wanting to do,†said Larry Reinsmith, an owner of the buildings and a Cassano’s franchisee.
The building that houses the Cassano’s was built in 1875 and was a livery stable where horses were kept while their owners lodged at the Buckye Hotel next door. While the building needed extensive upgrading in terms of plumbing, electric and other utilities, the goal was to preserve as much as possible of the structure including beams and low-hanging timbers.
Moreover, the theme of a livery has been kept and cared for in ways big and small, such as murals, a buggy, architectural features including a barn fence and a window stall, and decor like wall skonces and spoked wheels.
The hope is that what once was a livery stable and later a fine furniture showplace known regionally, will become a magnet and destination place for residents to gather and eat pizza, have a soup and sandwich, enjoy ice cream and visit adjoining shops within the complex. And that doesn’t include a spacious community room or the outdoors courtyard in the center of the place. Read more.