Herons Glen opens new restaurant
Over the past several years, the Herons Glen Recreation District has spent millions of dollars improving the facilities at the community, including the golf course.
On Dec. 8, the HGRD cut the ribbon on its latest completed project, a restaurant called the Herons Glen Nest.
The restaurant will continue its previous incarnation as a casual dining experience but on a bigger floor. It will feature a larger bar and lounge with more tables for dining.
J.B. Belknap, general manager, said residents identified the restaurant as one of the projects that needed to be addressed, which is exactly what they did.
“We hired an architect to renovate and revitalize the restaurant. It’s a culmination of everything we’ve done,” Belknap said about the five-month, $1.3 million project. “We’re trying to get out in the community, whether its weddings, Chamber of Commerce events, we’re trying to raise our profile and let people know we’re here.”
“There was a lot of planning well in advance. They wanted a bigger ground area. It was renovated 15 years ago and everything was small,” said Jane Schwartz, board of supervisors member and treasurer for the HGRD, “Now, it’s flipped, the dining room is bigger and now we have a big bar.”
The bar’s location has moved from one room to another and has doubled in size, from 12 seats to 23. It also looks more contemporary with the furniture and flooring.
Televisions are also set up throughout the area so people can keep up with their favorite sports teams or whatever else is on.
As for the food, chef Steve Mayberry said they will continue to offer an eclectic fare.
“We try to do a little bit of everything for everyone. We have meetings, parties and banquets here,” Mayberry said. “We have burgers and Reubens and chicken tenders for casual fare. We have a tuna bowl for something upscale.”
Opening day proved to be a busy one, featuring several parties, including one with 25 people, as well as residents who wanted to see the new restaurant up close.
Schwartz said the results are stunning, especially since the residents got what they wanted.
“They wanted more casual dining and less formal and we listened. It will cost residents $130 per year for the bonds,” Schwartz said.
The HGRD, a government recreation district, passed a bond issue in August 2020 for $13 million in construction and acquisition funds to enable them to renovate the golf course and restaurant, add pickleball, shuffleboard and bocce courts, a new roof and much more.
As a special district, they can issue bonds at government rates to raise capital for projects.
For more information, call 731-4520 or go to heronsglencc.com.