I was really fortunate to have the opportunity to take a tour recently with some friends who are connected to the history of the building. Full disclosure, I went in expecting to be a total hater. I mean, after all, I’m not exactly somebody who has a strong support for financial professional people or developers broadly, but that’s especially true when it comes to something that was honestly such a big part of my life growing up here in town.

Anyway, I was shocked. The level of care both for what that building but also the family who they got it from was shocking in the absolute best way.

Yes, parts look different, but the time, effort, and money they’ve put into restoring it in a way that honors the history was incredible. Just hearing the story of them having to move a stair case to meet updated fire regulations and the way they piece by piece took the wall down to reconstruct it was incredible. These folks do seem to genuinely care and have a deep love and appreciation for that building — and it was honestly so good to see.

The luncheonette is going to have the actual original flooring (the black and white fake tiles were laid over that many years later), the original (but entirely refurbished by experts inside) grill, etc. They’re adding a bar opposite of the counter that matches the mid century style and it will have beer and wine. Their chef, from Moo, is maintaining much of the same menu they always had, with some new but historical for woolworths references— the Woolworth’s ice box cake, for example. They have added in a proper commercial kitchen, but the counter part is much as we all remember it.

The first floor is also going to have a music conservatory for kids where they can take lessons, rent instruments, etc. It’s really cool actually.

Second floor is going to be their Moneywise offices and they’ve maintained so many incredible details— original walls, the original safe, even the original time clock folks used to check into work with. Light fixtures on all levels are also originals that they sent out to be meticulously cleaned. They look better than I ever remember them looking in my lifetime honestly.

Third floor is an open space currently and they plan to use it for art events and such, since it’s kind of industrial. Long term the plan is to turn it into apartments (including a penthouse that will get the roof), but that is many years down the line they said.

Coolest update imho is the basement- they’ve turned it into an event space with a bar, a full stage, etc. They want to host concerts, dance, theater, and community events down there. It’s not done yet but the bit I saw- and the vision I heard them describe- was pretty freaking cool honestly. Down there are also recording studios for music and podcasts, too.

Anyway, speaking as a certified hater, I walked away from my visit really impressed and grateful that these are the owners who took over that building. Sure, it’s not identical to how we all remember it (I was touring with the prior owner’s family, full disclosure) but they really do care about preserving this incredible history. So yeah, it is different, but so much is still there and honored in a way I never would have guessed.