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There’s no question that there is significant community interest in the filling state-turned-restaurant that Jake Redd is developing along U.S. Route 460 in Windsor.

“I’m asked (about it) every single day, and most of the people I’m connected to I think get asked somewhat often,” he said.

He had originally hoped to open the establishment in 2024, but he has experienced delays connected to the unique and daunting task of adapting the space to something new.

“It had been used as a restaurant in the past,” he said, “but with the extensive renovations and the historic remodeling, essentially every system had to be redone — plumbing, electrical, HVAC, everything is brand new, and it just took a more extended time period getting it all done, trying to keep the historic value while also combining all these unique experiences for the customer.”

Redd did not want to commit to a set timetable yet for when the restaurant will open, but he noted that he was looking at a shortened time frame now.

“I just want to say that I appreciate the community’s patience, as restoring a historic building into such a unique-functioning space takes time,” she said. “We hope to receive our final health department and ABC approvals this spring, so please be patient and stay posted to updates that come from our official social media pages.”

Among those pages is one on Facebook found under the restaurant’s official name — Redd’s Filling Station.

Redd offered a brief history of the business’ location at 20 W. Windsor Blvd. and also a summary of what the community can expect from the restaurant once it is open and operating.

“The property was originally developed as a gas station in the 1930s but then torn down and rebuilt in the 1950s to what is pretty much the current configuration of the space,” he said. “The roof line changed just a little bit, but it’s pretty much the same. 

“And the building has been restored and preserved to keep as much of the historical value as possible, including the original roll-up garage doors and the paint color on the inside and the original gas pump island that’s there on the outside,” he continued.

“And then the interior of the space now has add-ons from the ’50s theme, including an original 1950s jukebox and Coca-Cola vending machine that are restored in working order,” he added.

He emphasized that Redd’s Filling Station is a quick-service restaurant that will have a fresh menu, so customers can expect hand-cut fries and hand-breaded chicken, along with several other items, in addition to scooped ice cream and milkshakes.

“So it’s quick-service-style, and outside of any initial crowds and hiccups that we have — growing pains — customers should expect their food fast, fresh and consistent every time,” Redd said.

The restaurant has an outdoor dining space nicknamed “The Hen House.”

“It’s a family friendly outdoor area, but it includes a full bar, entertainment stage, cornhole, pingpong and a putt-putt course,” Redd said.

Both classic and modern modes of service will be available at the restaurant.

“Both the inside and the outside, we’re somewhat tech savvy, but there’ll be employees working all the registers at any time, so at any time you walk up to the inside counter, it’s similar to a fast food counter,” Redd said. “You order your food, you get a table card, you sit down, and we’ll bring the food and everything right to you. And same with the outside — it’s a kind of walk-up tiki bar service style, but we’ll bring the food and stuff directly to you no matter where you are.

“But we also have the QR codes on the table,” he added, “and you can order direct to your table, and we’ve got the order kiosks as well around the place, so you can order from one of those.”

Redd noted that while Redd’s Filling Station is not an unprecedented concept in the U.S., “it’s definitely very unique to this area.”