Doing it Old Style: Logansport restaurant reopens under new ownership

Jul. 28—After more than two years closed, Logansport's Old Style Inn, 219 S. Sixth St., is back, and people are digging it.

Logansport native and businessman Perry Rennewanz bought the building on May 28 and reopened the restaurant on June 1.

"The people wanted the Old Style back," Rennewanz said. "About every customer that's been here has thanked me for opening the place back up."

Rennewanz plans for the Old Style to be an upper-end restaurant for those who want a fine dining experience.

"A unique place to eat so people don't have to leave town and drive about two hours to Chicago or two hours to Indianapolis," he said.

One of the diners, Jim Jackson of Logansport, has had lunch a few times at Old Style since it opened and had been a regular for a while before the former owners closed it in December 2018.

"I've been coming here since I turned 21," he said. "I'm glad it did reopen. Logansport needed a place like this."

It will help open up the downtown, he added.

Jackson said the feeling in the Old Style is a little different from the days he frequented it. That's likely because people aren't used to it yet, he said.

He's noticed a switch in when people visit, too.

It used to be locals frequented it during the weekdays and out-of-towners frequented it during the weekends, but that's reversed, he said.

Casey Jones said he'd been to the Old Style before it closed but not enough to really compare it with the reopening.

"I'm just glad to see it back open," he said. "It gives Logansport more options."

Beverly Forrey and Jamy Wisher of Kokomo have been there for lunch three times already, having seen it while driving by when they came to Logansport for business.

"Now we keep coming back," Wisher said.

Forrey likes the food, good service and no wait for lunch.

Wisher said, "I think the atmosphere is really neat."

Rennewanz has strived to maintain the atmosphere that people remember, and he believes they'll find the Old Style's food the same but somewhat different.

"What I'm hearing for the most part is the food is better than before," he said.

For the chef position, he hired Shannon Rottet, who'd worked at the restaurant for 20 years as one of the cooks.

The previous owner had multiple cooks, but Rennewanz wanted a head chef and for Rottet to have control and a unified vision.

"An amazing cook," Rennewanz said of Rottet. "I let him basically spread his wings and do it his way — with a little bit of my input."

There are also musical acts, as before, often in the beer garden.

Rennewanz wants to have an outdoor area that will connect to the restaurant and eventually have a pavilion in the north parking lot.

He also plans to make use of the old neon sign on the back of the building.

It still works, he said.

There will be other changes as the restaurant becomes settled.

He plans to install a dessert bar area with cookies, specialty cakes, specialty cheesecakes and pies.

The inspiration comes from places he's eaten in other cities where desserts were a cornerstone of the menu.

"You could almost go there just to eat them for a meal," he said.

Rennewanz already has two bakers working there who he hired for that reason.

The restaurant will eventually be open for breakfast, as well as open seven days a week.

Rennewanz also plans to have other ventures downtown and help as it regrows and becomes a destination and as vibrant as he remembers.

"I've always loved Logansport," he said. "I really believe if you're interested in the heart of the community, then I think you can reap from the benefits of that if you have a good business and run it the way you should."

Reach James D. Wolf Jr. at james.wolf@pharostribune.com or 574-732-5117

Twitter @JamesDWolfJr