After over four decades of serving as a cherished gathering spot for families in Excelsior Springs, the Mill Inn Restaurant, an establishment steeped in local tradition and memories, closed its doors on September 1, 2023. Since 1981, Evelyn Cowsert, along with her late husband Orville, had lovingly operated the restaurant, making it a staple in the community. The closure marked the end of an era and left many uncertain about the future of this iconic building.
Fast forward to today, the future of the Mill Inn Restaurant is looking bright and bustling with activity. The new owners, Chuck and Sonia Duckworth, are breathing new life into the structure, undertaking extensive renovations while ensuring to preserve its nostalgic essence. The building, originally a Conoco service station before its transformation into the Mill Inn Restaurant in the early 1980s, is known for its unique shape—a feature that the Duckworths are committed to maintaining.
The renovation involves stripping the building down to its studs and shell, a necessary step to custom fit the space for its next incarnation as a family restaurant, much to the delight of local citizens. One of the major tasks includes replacing the iconic terracotta roof with a synthetic tile that mirrors the original, ensuring the building’s historic charm is retained. Additionally, the structural integrity of the building is being enhanced with the installation of a new i-beam, addressing the issue of the roof that had begun to sag.
The Duckworths have been responsive to the community’s hopes, confirming that the new establishment will indeed continue as a family restaurant, aligning with the legacy of the Mill Inn. However, they have indicated that the doors are unlikely to reopen before August, as the scale of renovations demands thoroughness and careful attention to detail.
Stay tuned as we continue to bring you updates and sneak peeks of the Mill Inn’s journey back to its place as a cornerstone of community life in Excelsior Springs.
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Wow…thank you so much for the update on the Mill Inn… I ‘m sure so many in the community are looking forward to the reopening date…and how welcoming that will be 👍🏼❣️😍🥰🙏