Silver City says goodbye to an icon

Demolition began Tuesday on a longstanding Silver City icon, as a giant backhoe bit into the roof of The Red Barn Steakhouse and Watering Hole Lounge, taking with it a little piece of Grant County history. The demolition of the more than 30-year-old red barn-shaped landmark restaurant with its iconic silo will make way for a long-awaited Denny’s, Silver City’s first chain restaurant, other than fast food. Demolition is being done by C&C Services LLC, of Albuquerque, which is a subcontractor of Tanglewood Construction, also of Albuquerque, which were hired by Food Service Concepts Inc., of Phoenix, Ariz., the company building the restaurant on U.S. 180 across from The Drifter. Louis Tarin, owner of C&C, said he and his employees began checking their equipment on Tuesday afternoon to prepare for the first part of the demolition. Tarin said that he and his team will work from front to back, and top to bottom, to take down the building, which should take between two and three weeks to fully demolish. Food Service Concepts Inc. had until April 21 of this year to begin demolition of The Red Barn, according to their building permit and town ordinances, explained Silver City Community Development Director Jaime Embick. The demolition and construction permits were handled on the same application, said Embick...more