PULLMAN — Organizers of the Pullman House Project and its cafe have closed to make repairs to the historical buildings.
The Pullman House Project and Pullman Club Coffee Shop, 605 E. 111th St., opened in mid-April to fanfare. Alfonso Quiroz, a collaborator and content creator with the Pullman House Project, said organizers had hoped to keep the facility open as crews scheduled construction around tours and coffee shop hours.
But the hundreds of visitors they received throughout the week made it necessary to prioritize finishing the restoration work on the buildings in the Pullman House Project, Qurioz said. The tours were paused and the cafe closed Sunday.
“We’ve got to remember that we’re restoring a 140-year-old home, and it’s a home that’s nationally and historically significant,” Quiroz said. “Every step, every piece of material, every decision has to be made deliberately, and we want to make sure that this building will be in use for another 140 years.
“Sometimes that means that the work must be done correctly, not just quickly, and we want to get this right and we know we will.”
Organizers are using the pause on tours and the cafe to restore the veranda, building interiors and floor refinishing, according to the project’s Facebook page.
Organizers aren’t sure yet when the tours and cafe will reopen, but they expect it will be this summer if remaining construction goes well, Quiroz said.
Those interested in the project are encouraged to follow the Pullman House Project Facebook page for updates and reopening details, Quiroz said.
Organizers are excited to welcome visitors once all restoration work is complete, Quiroz said.
“We know that there is a lot of interest in what we’re doing here, and we’re just asking our visitors to be patient so that we can get all of our work done as quickly as possible,” Quiroz said.
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