ITHACA, NY (CortacaToday) – If you ever find yourself longing for the old days of Ithaca, one town official has some potentially good news.

Town Supervisor Rod Howe says someone has purchased the gothic revival building at 919 Elmira Road, the former location of the popular Turback’s Restaurant. With help from the town, the owner is pursuing a development grant in hopes of breathing new life into the property and perhaps providing an economic boon to the town and city.

“We have worked with that new owner to submit a Restore New York grant, so keep your fingers crossed,” said Howe. “That’s a key entry point for both Ithacas.”

Howe says seeing the iconic building in operation again in any capacity would be a welcome sight for Ithacans, adding that the town and the property owner have had early talks about what could potentially go in at the property.

“People have fond memories of Turback’s,” said Howe. “So, we hope that we’ll be seeing that restored in the next couple of years.”

Turback’s of Ithaca, a nationally renowned restaurant that closed in the late 1990s, was first opened in 1968 by Cornell Hotel School grad Michael Turback. At just 22, Turback put together an establishment focused on using local ingredients, including a wine list that exclusively offered New York wines. He is widely considered a pioneer in the farm-to-table movement.

Howe says the town hopes to hear back about the grant application this fall.