Photo courtesy of CMH Gourmand
Nancy’s Home Cooking is a Clintonville dining staple, and after their closure last June, the deep ripple was felt throughout the community. A remodel and reopening was originally planned for November, and after three months of delays, the new opening date is finally here: Friday, February 19th. We recently spoke with owner Sheila Davis Hahn to find out what we can expect at the new Nancy’s Home Cooking.
Q: How did the public reaction to the closing of Nancy’s spur your interest in keeping the restaurant going?
A: When my aunt, Cindy King, announced that she was closing the doors at Nancy’s Home Cooking after 38 years of business, I think my first thought was “thank God!” But after the public outcry to save the restaurant that my aunt had worked so hard to build, I felt kind of sad thinking that she had to walk away due to health issues as well as mounting debt. As she put it, she ran her business with her heart, not her head, and ended up giving away more than she brought in. She took care of everyone and anyone, nobody was ever turned away from Nancy’s because they didn’t have enough money. Cindy made sure of that. She’s been a staple in the Clintonville community and her friends and family didn’t want to see her go, at least on the terms that she did. The fundraising began in the community and approximately $12,000 was raised to try and keep Nancy’s doors open. As other family members and myself met to see what we could do to keep our family’s legacy going, interest began to dwindle amongst others. Business opportunities came their way and they jumped on them, leaving me last man standing on this venture to continue the family business. I just felt that I had to do everything I could to try and get reopened, so many people gave so much, some gave all they had to see that the restaurant continued. It just occurred to me one day that I had to do something with all of this money that was raised, and, simply put, that’s what I did.
Q: What sort of changes can we expect to the establishment?
A: We installed a new hood/exhaust system and fire suppression over the stove in the kitchen. That was the only requirement from the city to bring Nancy’s up to code.
Q: Can we expect some of the same staff back at the restaurant?
A: Oh yes! Same family, same staff. Maybe a few new faces, maybe a few people just haven’t seen in a while. My plan is to keep everything the same, but Lowe’s has provided us with new flooring, so that’s just a bonus. But they were needed!
Q: Any changes to the menu, or is everything being kept the same?
A: I have decided to cut our dinner hours out for the time being. If business decides otherwise, then we’ll go back to dinners from 4-7pm Monday through Thursday. Breakfast will be served all day now through the week, 6am-2:30pm, with lunch cutting in at 10:30am as usual. Breakfast hours on weekends will remain the same, maybe extend it by an hour on Saturday and Sundays. Not quite sure yet.
Q: The opening date is planned for Feb 19th, correct? Any grand re-opening events planned?
A: November 1 was the original target date, but we will be open for business this Friday.
Nancy’s Home Cooking is located at 3133 N. High St. in Clintonville.