After closing its doors in 2023, The Patten House is open once again. 

If the community reaction to its closing is any indication, locals are going to be pretty excited about this news. The popular Geneva restaurant at the corner of Campbell and Second Street began welcoming diners back on August 29. 

According to Dave Heun of the Daily Herald:

Situated in a historic 1850s-era home with cozy fireplaces, intimate dining rooms, and a secluded patio ensconced in greenery, it’s about as far from a cookie-cutter restaurant as you can get. 

That description applies to much more than the space itself. From the start, Patten House has been a story of history, family, and community. When it first opened in 2014, Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns toured the restaurant (viewable on YouTube) with Annette Luyten to talk about the massive effort it took their family to bring the long-neglected property back to life.

That tour revealed quite a story. 

The vision for The Patten House began with Annette’s mother, Nancy, who saw promise in the worn-down property. While some doubted the practicality of restoring such an old and dilapidated home, Nancy believed it could be something special — and she got her family on board to take the leap.

What immediately followed was less about launching a restaurant and more about breathing life back into a landmark. The Luytens tackled everything from design choices to hands-on restoration, sweating even the small details (literally, it sounds like). 

Along the way, local contractors, artisans, and shop owners joined in to supply lighting, furnishings, and craftsmanship that made the space feel distinctly rooted in Geneva.

The Patten House traces its origins to the Patten family, early settlers and lumber merchants who built the home in 1857. For decades it served as a family residence. When the Luytens restored it, they made sure the original windows, fireplaces, brick walls and historic woodwork were repaired and preserved.

At the same time, nearly everything new inside came from other Geneva shops. They sourced chandeliers The Little Traveler. Furniture came from The Country Store and Strawflower. Even the custom bar and patio furniture were crafted by local artisans. 

“The furniture and artwork is eclectic, but it’s reflective of the history,” Luyten said at the time. 

One of The Patten House’s charms has always been its variety. Upstairs bedrooms were reimagined into intimate banquet and private dining rooms. The downstairs bar area offers cozy warmth thanks to working fireplaces.

And outside, what was once a backyard swimming pool (so solid it reportedly broke three wrecking balls during removal) became one of the Tri-Cities’ most popular outdoor patios.

In the video, Luyten explained the thinking this way: “You kind of have a lot of different experiences at one spot… inside dining, out front relaxing, the patio that’s a little more casual. It’s really just about what you like and what you prefer.”

At the time of its 2023 closing, Luyten replied to social media commenters that it was “time to take a breath, catch a sunset and spend some time with family.”

For longtime fans, the reopening is a return to a familiar place. For newcomers, it’s a chance to experience a Geneva institution that feels, for some, like more than just a restaurant.

For the first weekend back (Friday, August 29 through Sunday, August 31), the restaurant will be serving a special shortened menu. Starting Tuesday, September 3, they plan to return to their full menu of Cajun- and Creole-influenced fare.

Check out the full menu on their website.

Please feel free to reach out to [email protected] with questions or comments.

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