New Owners, New Name, Same History

When new owners Scott and Sarah Flury cut the ribbon at 5 p.m. on June 5th, a new restaurant will officially make itself at home in the historic Grant House again.

“It was the Restaurant at the Historic Reserve, then it went to the Restaurant at The Grant House, then the Grant House Restaurant,” Scott Flury said. “We’re changing it again to Eatery at The Grant House.”

The new name, signage, and logo won’t be the only changes coming to the 1849 house that originally served armed forces officers in the 1850’s. Ulysses S. Grant was stationed at the Vancouver Barracks in 1852-53, though he was a quartermaster and never lived at the house. The name was bestowed on the home after Grant became a General, then President of the United States.

After his public service came to an end, Grant did return and visit the house, however. The Flurys expect that Clark County residents and tourists alike will do the same.

“I guess it’s pretty crazy around here during the summer time, so we’re excited to see that,” Flury said. “We had that one nice day in April, and we were just packed.”

Flury will look to meet the needs of the increased foot traffic. Eatery at The Grant House will be open seven days a week, offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Happy hours and Saturday and Sunday brunches will also be on the menu as well as events throughout the year.

“There are around one million visitors to (Fort Vancouver) a year,” Flury said. “Just shy of that. We want to cater to those individuals, want to do a ‘walkabout’ menu. Because if they’re out walking, we’re the only place in this area. We want to make it convenient for them. If they’re thirsty, hungry – come in, grab a bite, and continue their walk.”

Eatery at The Grant House also hopes to cater to those looking to linger. There are four rooms available to rent for any kind of occasion: The North and South Parlors, the Club Dining Room, and The Fowler Room. Grant House Memberships are also being offered, which allows members to reserve these rooms. For the lover of pressed grapes, wine lockers are available to rent, allowing customers to come in with their own wine and avoid a corkage fee.

“Great opportunity for people to entertain friends and clients in a place with a lot of history while enjoying great food,” Flury said.

There will be plenty of other options for people moving at a more leisurely pace as well.

“We’re talking about loaning blankets and doing picnic lunches,” Flury said, referencing the grounds across the street. “People can go out and just sit in the park. We also want to do murder mystery parties, events like that.”

Wine tasting, movies on the west side of the building, and a Farm to Fort dinner are a few other happenings on the horizon. The Farm to Fort event, which brings local restaurants, wineries, and farms together for an outdoor dinner in early fall, was first held in September of 2016. Live music is planned every Tuesday and Wednesday, including outside when weather permits.

The second story porch will also be open for visitors to enjoy. There are plans in place for small, bistro-style chairs and tables for people to sit and enjoy the view. The perfect setting for happy hour and appetizers.

“It is our intention to get tables and chairs, small bistro type tables, and to open up the upper deck,” Flury said.

First things first, though. Since buying the restaurant from sisters Lynn Rullman and Suzy Taylor (and her husband Jon Taylor), the Flurys have been running the restaurant since April 1, spending most of March learning the ropes from the existing staff. Even though the Flurys also own Latte Da Coffee House and Wine Bar in Vancouver, there’s always much to learn when opening a new restaurant.

“We spent all of March shadowing the workers,” Flury said. “I was here every day they were open, learning the system, why they did what they did, how it all came together. Sarah is a school teacher, she comes over after school to help out and make sure everyone is taken care of.”

The Flurys will also bring in fresh produce every day of the week and seafood three times a week. Out back, an herb garden features chives, mint, sage, and more.

“We’re excited about it,” Flury said. “And it will change with the seasons. As different produce comes, the menu will change.”

Even with all the changes Eatery at The Grant House hopes to incorporate, there are certain things that can’t be touched. Which is totally understandable when working within the confines of a historic building located within a historic district.

The Grant House is a mainstay on Officers Row, and has been for over 160 years. Though the original exterior logs have been covered with lap siding, the military has long since left, and the use has changed hands several times, it is still a focal point. In fact, an 80-foot flagpole is being erected directly across Evergreen Boulevard, just a few yards away from the iconic parade grounds gazebo.

Even though the address is over 160 years old, Eatery at The Grant House hopes to bring a brand new feel to Officers Row every day of the week.