A popular Citrus County restaurant that burned down back in 2011 is getting closer to re-opening. Crews are hard at work getting the building up that will soon house the new Marguerita Grill in Homosossa.

  • New location will have larger deck, fewer seats to ensure personal service
  • Some working on new construction were patrons of old Marguerita Grill
  • Owner targeting early summer for re-opening

Since the fire, owner Tommy Piliouras has been working hard to rebuild.

"That was my dream," Piliouras said. "That's my dream. Me and my family put our lives here."

"We didn't lose a building only. We lost all the memorabilia that the community gave us, which was pictures even from World War II," he added. He hit a few roadblocks, having to go through a number of contractors before finally being able to start the construction process.

The new space will be slightly different from the old building, with a larger deck area and a few less seats to ensure personal service. Despite the time it's taken for him to get the project started, Pilliouras said the community has stood by him since day one.

"All those years, they've been asking me, they've been calling me. ‘When? And ‘I can't be happier that you're getting it open,’” Piliouras said.

Many of the construction workers were also customers at the original restaurant, and are very eager to see the place re-open

"I loved their food. Service was always great. Got a smile every time you'd come in,” Dereck Adams with Ken Adams Insulation and Drywall said.

"I used to come here all the time when I first moved here," carpenter Jim Mattson added. "I really liked the place. It always had good food. So it would be great to see it back up and running again.”

As the building nears completion, Pilliouras said he is getting more and more eager to welcome both old and new customers.

"I can't wait until I open the doors and I meet all my friends coming back," Piliouras said.

Currently, Piliouras hopes to open in early summer 2017. Just as he did in the original restaurant, Piliouras is asking his customers to bring any memorabilia back so they can put it on display again in the new place.

Move the slider bar below left or right to see what the structure looked like after the 2011 fire versus what it looks like today.