GREEN TWP. − Tracy Townsend leaned over a table, wiping it down with a cloth just before the newly rebranded Junipers Restaurant just outside of Orrville opened for lunch.

As the general manager of the now-rebranded restaurant at The Pines Golf Club, Townsend is proud of the modernized space and the new menus he helped craft.

"Everyone who comes in here is amazed by the transformation," Townsend said. "Even customers from The Pines (Restaurant) like the redesign."

While The Pines Golf Club remains under the ownership of the Howard Wenger family, the club's restaurant and banquet hall are now operated by Sayre Hospitality Group.

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A deal was struck between the original owners and Sayre Hospitality in November that gave the latter the authority to revamp the banquet hall and the then-closed restaurant, said Kimberly Siracuse, director of human resources and customer service at Sayre.

In the ensuing months, the two underwent renovations, being renamed the Junipers Restaurant and the White Oak Event Center.

Junipers Restaurant is now open for business alongside its event center counterpart.

A new business relationship at The Pines

The Smithville-based hospitality group is not new to the area.

With roots dating back to 1981, the company owns a number of Wayne County businesses, including the Greystone Event Center, Village Catering Company and Sam' Pizza and Heroes.

Now added to that list are the White Oak Event Center and Junipers Restaurant.

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Those acquisitions came about when Brian Sayre, owner of the hospitality group, went golfing at The Pines.

"He looked around and had a vision," Siracuse said. "He thought we could help them improve some things as the restaurant had closed. He wanted to help bring it back."

After some discussions, Sayre and the Howard Wenger family struck a deal to rejuvenate The Pines, she said.

Redesigning a local favorite in Junipers Restaurant

When Sayre Hospitality took over The Pines Restaurant, Siracuse said, the dining room was in need of an update.

Soon after their November acquisition, the hospitality group aimed to build on the original bones of the space, and Siracuse said they stuck to that goal.

The once brown walls and ceilings are now white and black, respectively. The wooden beams that line the ceiling remain, becoming a defining feature of the dining room.

Chairs and tables were replaced with newer black designs, while the hanging lights were replaced with sleeker models, she said.

The bar received a facelift, losing the dark bartop in favor of a white-granite alternative.

In lieu of its wall-mounted televisions are paintings of golfers, golf clubs and golf balls, a not-so-subtle nod to the surrounding golf course.

The menu is now split: A dinner menu and a club menu. Food options were expanded, Siracuse said.

From asiago stuffed chicken, beer cheese soup and steaks to salads, quesadillas and shrimp, there is something for everyone, she said.

"It's a true reflection of what Sayre has to offer," Siracuse said.

Combining operations

The White Oak Event Center never closed during the acquisition and did not get the same level of renovations as the Junipers , she said. But that doesn't mean it never received fresh paint.

What really changed for the event center, Siracuse saidd, was the integration of it into the Sayre Hospitality Group network, which opens it up Sayre-operated catering.

"It puts the food and location in one spot, making it easier for people," she said.

This integration also meant offering The Pines employees places in the Sayre family.

Roughly 80% stayed on with a few leaving in the months since November, Siracuse said. Most have either remained at The Pines or moved on to different jobs in the hospitality group.

"Many are in catering but some have other jobs now, but the good part of being in the company is that there are opportunities for growth," she said.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Sayre Hospitality Junipers Restaurant now part of The Pines Golf Club