An unexpected letter from a granddaughter of the former owner of Bresee Tower in Danville has the owner of a new local business excited. Bill Pickett has more…
Deana Turner is the owner of the newly opened Bresee Bar and Grill in downtown Danville.
Part of the interior of Bresee Bar & Grill.
Turner says she was driving into Danville from her home in Henning watching as Bresee Tower was being demolished…
{AUDIO: “You go down (route) 150 and it’s right there. And, you know, you see it for years and I’m watching it go down. And I’m like – this is sad. And I didn’t want to see it go, so I was like, I just want to kind of keep that part of history going. And that’s when I decided to name it after that.”}
(1st Picture) A small piece of marble from Bresee Tower now on display at the new restaurant and bar. (2nd Picture) A photo of Paul K. Bresee. (3rd Picture) Part of the letter received from Paul K. Bresee’s granddaughter.
Turner says business was so good that last Sunday they started running out of certain products…and that’s when she got the letter…
{AUDIO: “That day I was feeling really bad about shutting down because I was turning people away, and saying I was sorry. And when I received that letter, it was like it was exactly what I needed. That’s why I’m doing this. It was just perfect timing for me to keep plugging away. And it was definitely a little cherry on top.”}
In addition to the letter, Turner says former Bresee Tower owner Paul K. Bresee’s granddaughter also sent a photo….
{AUDIO: “She wanted to let me know that the picture she was sending would be a fine addition to the bar. And that the photo was taken of Paul when he was twenty-seven. And that because of us, his history and his legacy will live on still in Danville. And she was just very touched by that.”
Turner is excited about joining the lineup of businesses in downtown Danville….
{AUDIO: “We wanted downtown Danville mainly because this used to be something special, and we want to bring it back. And it seems like it has just brought some life back. New businesses are coming in as well. It’s just a perfect location.”}
Bresee Bar and Grill is open seven days a week at 8 East North Street downtown. Turner expects to add wine tasting and history trivia – including Danville history trivia – in the future.
Coffee and donuts are available at the business from 9 until 11 a.m. The kitchen is open until 9:00 p.m. on weekdays, and 10 p.m. on weekends. Bar hours are until 10:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and until midnight on Friday and Saturday nights.
