news-record.com

Liberty Oak, a downtown Greensboro restaurant that has been a destination for over 30 years, has new owners.

Eddie Gramisci and Scott Rudolph have taken over the restaurant at 100 W. Washington St. from longtime owner Walter Fancourt.

Gramisci is owner of New York Pizza on Tate Street, which he bought in 2001 after managing it for six years. Gramisci says the former owner of the pizzeria was ready to leave the restaurant.

After years of admiring Liberty Oak, Gramisci says he wondered if Fancourt would ever be interested in selling.

"I approached him (Fancourt) two years ago," says Gramisci. "He said no."

Fancourt could not be reached for comment.

But Fancourt eventually reconsidered and negotiated with Gramisci. On Jan. 1, Fancourt contacted Gramisci and said he was ready to come to an agreement. Gramisci brought in a partner, caterer and restaurant owner Scott Rudolph.

Fancourt opened Liberty Oak 30 years ago as a wine and cheese shop in Irving Park Plaza on Battleground Avenue. The shop grew into a popular restaurant. In 1999, Fancourt moved the restaurant to downtown Greensboro, a risky move considering the downtown area was only just beginning to thrive as an evening destination. But the restaurant survived the move and the economic downturn following the events of Sept. 11 and has maintained a brisk lunch and dinner business. Weekend diners often need a reservation.

Gramisci says he has no intention of changing the menu. And the only planned staff change is to add his brother as kitchen manager.

"I would have to be stupid to change the restaurant. It's a moneymaker," says Gramisci.

He does plan some "tweaks," such as upgrading the bathrooms and adding some touch-ups to the two-floor dining area.

"Nothing huge, nothing major," Gramisci says. "I want to make it very artsy, more modern... much more inviting."

Among changed plans is to overhaul the patio, adding new landscaping and ambient lighting.

But Gramisci says he wants to keep the vintage feel of the restaurant's historical space, particularly the bar.

"I want to change the way people look at this bar," he says. "I don't want people to think of it as a place to wait for a table. I want them to think of it as a place where they can come to have a drink before dining somewhere else."

Gramisci assures that any renovations will be done after hours with a possible occasional Monday closing.

For now Liberty Oak is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. Gramisci says he may eventually open for Sunday lunch.