In 2007, Renee Meyer Dean and her family took on the daunting task of turning a then more than 120-year-old single-family home in Harlem into a bed and breakfast, restaurant, and event space.
It took Meyer Dean, her sister, Lee Ann Meyer, and parents, Ken and Murl Meyer, months to renovate the house and get it ready for guests. They named their business Red Oak Manor, which is located at 410 North Louisville St. It also includes The Acorn Restaurant, which serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
It was built in 1885 by Dr. Weeks, the town physician.
“The house was really dated when we bought it,” she said. “We added three bedrooms upstairs.”
They ran into financial trouble in 2008 when the economy crashed and the bank refused to lend them the money needed to complete the renovations. As a result, the family had to eliminate some of their renovation plans.
The Red Oak Manor now has five bedrooms and five bathrooms. The family welcomed their first guests in early 2008.
“We put the last bed together just before they arrived,” Meyer Dean said.
They also added a commercial kitchen to prepare food for both the restaurant and special events, such as weddings and baby showers. Lee Ann Meyer is also a wedding director, so she helps to plan and coordinate those events.
The business is equipped to host events ranging from 12 to 200 people, but most range from 80 to 120 people. They have a gazebo and pavilion on the property.
Meyer Dean, who has been a wedding photographer for 30 years, recognized the need for event space in Harlem.
“There wasn’t a place for weddings in Harlem,” she said.
Meyer Dean said while the town has multiple churches, they’re too small to accommodate large weddings and receptions. She was tired of watching the mothers of the bride and groom dressed in their wedding attire clean up after receptions.
“We could do that for them; they could have a great time and go home,” Meyer Dean said.
To create The Acorn Restaurant, the family bought used items from restaurants that had closed. They also use mismatched coffee mugs and salt and pepper shakers, which many of their guests enjoy.
“The only thing we bought new was the stove,” Meyer Dean said. “We’re very family-friendly in the restaurant. We welcome everybody; it’s not fancy or overpriced.”
The restaurant serves breakfast Monday through Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and lunch from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dinner is served Monday through Friday from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
“Saturday evenings and Sundays are strictly for private events,” she said.
One of the events the restaurant hosts is Iron Chef Harlem, which is held on the second Saturday of each month from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The event features three chefs, who compete to create the best soup, salad, and entrée using a secret ingredient.
A panel of judges rates each dish on its creativity, plating, and taste. They sell 80 tickets for each Iron Chef Harlem event, and those sell out fast.
Chefs and attendees are also given the opportunity to promote their businesses.
“We’re all about small businesses,” Meyer Dean said.
For more information, visit redoakmanor.com or call 706-556-8222.
