Midtown Cafe moving from longtime location

The Midtown Cafe will soon have a new location to call home. Due to the extensive renovation of the former Hotel Maytag, the restaurant would have to close for an extended period of time and a move was more desirable to keep the business going.

“It is not closing, it is going to be relocated, we are trying to relocate it,” said developer Jack Hatch of Hotel Maytag Investors.

Hatch said as the developers get close to finalizing the financing and the construction companies start coming up with work schedules, they found Midtown Cafe would have to be closed for a longer period of time than they can afford. Extensive work will have to be done in the area due to problems with pipes and leaks which have surfaced again this winter.

“The building is telling us something as it shakes and rattles and leaks,” Hatch said.

With renovations poised to begin sometime in April and asbestos removal at the beginning of the list, Hatch said he hopes to have the restaurant moved out in early spring so they don’t have to worry about any construction hazards.

“We were hoping to have little disruption in their service, maybe over the weekend or a couple of days, but we understand that from the very beginning that it is a place people like to have breakfast and lunch and they have quite a crowd, and we want to keep it for them,” Hatch said.

Midtown Cafe owner Gary Sharpnack said he is excited for the move and starting at a new location. While the restaurant has called the former Hotel Maytag building home for more than 50 years, with the amount of work and time needed to restore the space, Sharpnack knew a move was the best option.

“I think it will be OK,” Sharpnack said. “It has been known as Midtown forever, people will have to get used the change of going over there.”

Sharpnack said they are currently looking at the former Speakeasy building, 109 First Ave. W., as a new location. A new kitchen would have to be added to the space and Sharpnack said he would lose about 40 seats, but it is the best option and location for the business. He is hoping for just two weeks down time for the transition to the new location.

“I’m glad the city is working with me, glad they are just not booting me out of here and forgetting me,” Sharpnack said. “That makes me feel good that the community is with me.”

Once the renovations at the former Hotel Maytag are completed, Hatch said they plan to introduce a new restaurant to the space. From a study commissioned for the cultural and entertainment district, Hatch said they received a recommendation to upgrade the theater and restaurant space.

“We will have a restaurant in that space, but it will probably be lunches and dinners and cocktails,” Hatch said. “That will not compete with what Midtown is doing and potentially brings in a different clientele.”

Hatch said once the final closing is complete on the building, he is going to make looking at the commercial side of the building a big emphasis.

Renee Richards, the owner of Bloomin’ Nails located in the former Hotel Maytag building, said she has been told her business will be able to stay in the building. A renovation will take place in her space but should only closed for about two weeks.

“Jack said he was going to get in touch with us in a week or two and give us an update on how everything is going so we are just sitting tight and waiting for that,” Richards said.

An official move date for Midtown Cafe has not yet been set.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com