Business

Historic board OKs restaurant work

Architect Bill O'Cain explains the work on Renzo's restaurant.

By Bill Moss, Published: July 25, 2014

The Hendersonville Historic Preservation Commission last week approved work on the new Renzo's Fine Italian Ristorante that includes a new awning and three new ground floor windows with awnings on the south wall facing Fifth Avenue East.

Renzo Maietto has leased the space formerly occupied by Mrs. G & Me for a new upscale restaurant that he promises will serve authentic Italian fare with an Old World flair.
Architect Bill O'Cain submitted plans to install three windows with awnings on the ground floor roughly the same side as the eight second-floor windows in the 99-year-old brick building. City code requires design review or changes to local landmarks and properties in local historic districts "to ensure that modifications to the appearance of properties are congruous with the special character of the historic districts and landmarks." The Historic Preservation Commission granted a certificate of appropriateness authorizing the work on Wednesday and a contractor started work on the window cutouts the next day.
Built in 1905, the two-story brick building has housed hardware, furniture and other retail stores. By 1912, the corner structure was the Palace, Hendersonville's first movie theater.