Nearly Famous plans Sept. 5 reopening

After almost three months since the May 13 fire, owner Nancy Miller has opted to relocate Nearly Famous to a leased space at 2708 S. Glenstone Ave., in the Brentwood Center. It is the former home of Burr’s restaurant.

Miller hopes to reopen Sept. 5, with plans for a grand opening later to coincide with the restaurant’s 30th anniversary. All kitchen equipment is in place, and final cleaning, organization and painting is being completed.

Repairing its 1828 S. Kentwood Ave. building would have cost more and taken longer – and that’s an understatement, Miller said.

Miller wouldn’t disclose the lease price of the space, but she said it’s 4,470 square feet, more than double the 2,000 square feet that once housed the popular eatery.

The additional space has allowed Miller to create a banquet facility that she expects to seat up to 40 people.

The new location also has more parking and better visibility, Miller said.

Devoted customers have been anticipating the restaurant’s reopening and have supported its move, she said.

“The response from the community has been just amazing,” she said. “They’re really excited about our move and anxious for us to get our doors open and get that soup and egg salad back in them.”

An SBJ online poll in June showed 49 percent of readers thought Nearly Famous should relocate after the fire, and 51 percent said it should rebuild.

Asked whether the decision to relocate was hard to make, Miller said it was bittersweet.

“Yes, because of the history of the building and all of the memories there, but no, because I think it’s a better opportunity for us as a business,” she said.

This story originally appeared in SBJ’s Aug. 8 free e-news Daily Update. Click here to register.[[In-content Ad]]