RICHFIELD - A historic building in Richfield has gone from a store to a "shack."
The Sugar Shack, a cafe, opened its doors Dec. 8 in downtown Richfield. The building had formerly been a general store under various ownerships since 1925. Another building used as a general store had existed in the same location from the mid-1800s until Paul Leitzel rebuilt and reopened the business in 1925.
Crystal Huffnagle is the owner once again, after running the store in the late 1990s into the early 2000s. The business than became Jennie's Corner Store until it closed in the spring of this year.
Article Photos
Sentinel photo by TABITHA GOODLING
Manager Katlyn Huffnagle, left, and owner Crystal Huffnagle have opened the doors to The Sugar Shack, a cafe in Richfield that was formerly a general store for many years.
Huffnagle, who had owned the Richfield Country Store with her mother Barb Hoover, is now owner of the Sugar Shack and her daughter, Katlyn Huffnagle is manager.
This is the first time, the business has existed as a cafe and not a store. Most previous owners of the store offered some made-to-order items and a grill was later added to the store to make burgers in addition to the typical store items.
Crystal's business now offers soft-serve ice cream year round as well as pies and other baked goods. There are subs, deep fried broccoli and cheese sticks and french fries, fountain soda and angus beef burgers and hot dogs.
Patrons will come to the counter and place an order. They then have the option of sitting in the newly refurbished dining area or ordering for takeout.
Crystal said the new adventure is a "comfortable" one. The atmosphere of the store has been turned into that of a whimsical cafe complete with pea-green walls, ceiling fans and original hardwood flooring from the 1920s.
"It's just awesome," she said as she sat in the dining area and scanned the room's changes.
New coolers, a new grill and some tables and chairs have livened up the cafe feel.
Crystal is trying to keep the history alive as one wall has been dedicated to framed newspaper clippings about the store and its various ownerships and changes.
"I want to make it like that throughout the cafe," she said of hanging historic clippings on the walls. "I want people to see the history of Richfield."
Hours of operation are from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day, Monday through Saturday, except for Wednesday when the business is closed. Sunday hours are from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For more information or for takeout, call 694-3216.
