Berardi's Restaurant looking good

topey@sanduskyregister.comSANDUSKYBerardi's Restaurant is debuting its new look after undergoing an extensive remodel."From the floors to the walls to the ceiling and everything in between and behind," said Dan Leber, Berardi's general manager, when asked what was done.They began the work in November and had to close down for three weeks during a portion of the remodel. The cost of the remodel was well over $300,000, said Tom Leber who co-owns Berardi's Restaurant with Maria Berardi-Nainee.Sandusky city officials provided the restaurant $15,000, through Issue 8, a special account specifically for private business improvements, to help offset some costs, Leber said.From the $15,000:• $5,000 helped pay for work on the outside facade• $10,000 help pay for the addition to the back room."We appreciate what the city is doing for us," he said.The new lobby features a planter bench which Dan made himself out of poplar wood.There is a nod to Berardi's history all through the restaurant, including its time at Cedar Point when the park was all vendors. The Berardi family owned up to 27 rides back in the 1930s, such as Noah's Ark, the Caterpillar and the Octopus.The memorabilia begins in the lobby where a potato peeler from Berardi's original stand on the Cedar Point midway is displayed.Inside the restaurant is new tile. It flows into a new distressed hickory wood floor, installed by Buckeye State Remodeling.Framed on the wall behind the front counter is a blown-up image of the Berardi Fry Guy, taken from a patch on a uniform that Berardi employees used to wear at Cedar Point. The Fry Guy was sketched by a member of the Berardi family.Old photos of Berardi family members, its restaurants and history hang on the walls throughout the business. A special place of honor is a corner table in the back room that honors Mama B, otherwise named Eurosia Berardi."This is where we used to sit as kids," Dan said.A ledger from June 25 to Aug. 9, 1943, maintained by Mama B hangs on the wall behind the table.They had to install new plumbing in the bathroom which were remodeled with new tile on the floors and walls as well as new stalls and toilets. They installed new electrical in areas.The back room was the site of an addition that nearly doubled the space to accommodate large parties.A new back room was built and installed by Sandusky Salvage. Portions of the bar are made with reclaimed benches off the midway at Cedar Point.The only thing that was not touched is the kitchen and the tasty recipes, he said.Maria Berardi-Nainee (black shirt) and Tom Leber, right, stand behind the bar with several of the wait staff in the renovated Berardi's in Sandusky on Tuesday, February 23, 2016.The renovated Berardi's in Sandusky on Tuesday, February 23, 2016.The renovated Berardi's in Sandusky on Tuesday, February 23, 2016.The new addition at the renovated Berardi's in Sandusky on Tuesday, February 23, 2016.The original logo for Berardi's atCedar Point hangs on the wall in the renovated Berardi's in Sandusky on Tuesday, February 23, 2016.The expanded back room for the renovated Berardi's in Sandusky on Tuesday, February 23, 2016.The renovated Berardi's includes a bar made from former Cedar Point park benches in Sandusky on Tuesday, February 23, 2016.The renovated Berardi's includes a bar made from former Cedar Point park benches in Sandusky on Tuesday, February 23, 2016.The walls are lined with historical photos and information in the newly renovated Berardi's in Sandusky on Tuesday, February 23, 2016.Maria Berardi-Nainee and Tom Leber stand at the bar in the renovated Berardi's in Sandusky on Tuesday, February 23, 2016.Maria Berardi-Nainee (black shirt) and Tom Leber, right, stand behind the bar with several of the wait staff in the renovated Berardi's in Sandusky on Tuesday, February 23, 2016.Potato sacks line the ceiling of the original train car portion of the Berardi's Family Restaurant in Sandusky on Tuesday, February 23, 2016.Potato sacks line the ceiling of the original train car portion of the Berardi's Family Restaurant in Sandusky on Tuesday, February 23, 2016.The renovated Berardi's in Sandusky on Tuesday, February 23, 2016.The renovated Berardi's in Sandusky on Tuesday, February 23, 2016.The renovated Berardi's in Sandusky on Tuesday, February 23, 2016.The renovated Berardi's in Sandusky on Tuesday, February 23, 2016.