Following a more than three month closure, Brussels’ landmark Wittmond Hotel will be re-opening on Saturday, June 18, just in time for Father’s Day. The Wittmond Hotel is the oldest restaurant still in operation in Calhoun County. (Submitted photo)
By Caitlin King & Carissa Sitki
Following a more than three month closure, Brussels’ landmark Wittmond Hotel will be re-opening on Saturday, June 18, just in time for Father’s Day.
The hotel suffered an accidental kitchen fire on the morning of Thursday, March 10, and has remained closed since. According to Wittmond owner, Charlie “Chipper” Burch, the menu will “by and large” be the same.
For now, the restaurant will remain “reservation only,” but will fully re-open at some point in the future.
Damages to the building were not extensive, with most of the issues being smoke damage. No one was injured in the incident and some antiques were even able to be salvaged, according to Burch
Despite the minimal destruction, the building still required some work, which is what the owners have been focused on for the past few months and now those renovations are nearly done, according to Burch. He told the Journal on Tuesday, that the dining room is expected to be ready by the weekend, as finishing touches, such as new carpet, are being completed this week.
Burch expressed his excitement, but he isn’t the only one looking forward to the re-opening. According to him, people have been inquiring about the state of the restaurant since the fire.
“The community is glad for it as well,” said Burch. “I’ve had people asking me for months when I was gonna reopen.”
The Wittmond Hotel is the oldest restaurant still in operation in Calhoun County and the building itself is also one of the oldest.
