Billy Epps shows off the newly installed kitchen, which includes a commercial stove and hood, refrigerator, warmer, sink, and storage space.
DOWNIEVILLE — The Downieville Community Hall is scheduled to reopen soon, pending upcoming inspections. On Tuesday, local Billy Epps gave The Mountain Messenger a tour of the near-finished building. The layout of the building remains as it was, but almost the entire ground floor has been updated.
The powered lift is accessed behind a metal door next to the entrance
The new front double doors are the first sign of renovation, and new bathrooms greet visitors at the entrance. To the right of the entrance is a powered lift between the first and second floors, allowing wheelchair users to navigate the building independently.
The most anticipated update to the building was the installation of a brand-new commercial kitchen, replacing the previously outdated and often faulty equipment. The kitchen features a 4-burner stove with a griddle, two ovens, a large refrigerator, and a warming unit. A countertop area with pull-out drawers and storage cabinets has also been installed. Unfortunately, the installation required removing an external door to the kitchen, but Epps believes being able to fit more equipment was well worth that cost. More refrigeration units and an industrial freezer have also been installed in the storage room outside the kitchen.
The renovated main room on the building’s ground floor
The main ground floor room has been significantly renovated, with new lighting, flooring, electrical, and counter space. Epps pointed out that the installation of a total of eight electrical outlets at the level of the counter would make serving heated food from that location much easier. The room’s length was slightly reduced due to the enlargement of the storage room at its western end.
Upstairs, little has been changed, besides the notable installation of a temporary ramp to the stage. The deck has been mildly strengthened, and the railing was replaced. The powered lift is accessed upstairs in the area adjacent the door to the deck.
Although fencing around the Community Hall is expected to be removed in the coming week, the county is still waiting on inspections before it opens. The most significant are state inspections for the powered lift and commercial kitchen. If all goes as planned, the building could be reopened before the start of July.