Shelby Cafe has a new look
Rebecca Sitzes
rsitzes@shelbystar.com
For years, customers would walk into the familiar embrace of Shelby Cafe on Lafayette Street, welcomed by the scent of homestyle cooking. A short amble across the black and white tile flooring, and diners would slip into one of the well worn booths where yellowed Shelby Star newspapers advertised businesses or featured stories of people now long gone underneath the clear plastic tabletops.
Monday, customers will be welcomed back to a whole new look at the long-time restaurant.
When COVID-19 and the ensuing stay-at-home order changed the way businesses could operate, Bryan Greene said he and his business partner, George Rizkallah, decided to add a service station for the wait staff after they switched to take-out only.
"One thing led to another and it went from top to bottom," Greene said.
What had started out as a simple change became a floor to ceiling renovation.
"It's really a facelift," he said. "The thought was, 'Why don't we fix it while we can.'"
The restaurant has new floors, walls and ceiling tiles as well as new booths and equipment.
"Everything's brand new," Greene said. "The floor was old tile, very slick. We added something safer and a little more modern."
Three booths will seat up to six people, and another will seat seven offering additional room for larger groups.
This is the first time since 1991 that the diner has had a major renovation.
Greene said for some people, the original booths held sentimental value and he has been selling them left and right.
He said one couple always sat at table 10. They have purchased their table and are planning to put it in their home.
Greene is excited to welcome people back on Monday after being closed for around six weeks. He said the phone has rung off the hook ever since they shut down on May 24.
"We're ready to have our customers back," Greene said. "We've had people say, 'What am I going to do?'"
Some loyal customers would eat two or three meals a day at the cafe and relied on the homestyle cooking to feed them and their families.
Greene said the wide variety of options and the homestyle cooking is what has kept the restaurant in business for so long.
Although the appearance has changed, customers can continue to expect the same menu, cooking and prices.
Greene said Shelby Cafe first opened in 1922 and is the oldest restaurant in Cleveland County.
Next year, they will be holding a big celebration to celebrate 100 years in business.
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