As reported last week, Jo’An’s has sold. Dave and Loie Butterfield, who own Idypark LLC which purchased the property, plan to raze the building by the end of the year. As he said, the restaurant will not reopen.
“As the center of town, we envision it to be a peaceful, beautiful location for all to enjoy,” Dave wrote in an email.
Their intention is to remove all the structures and make the property a public park, as it was originally from the 1950s into the middle of the 1970s.
Dave confirmed that the Butterfields “… will continue to support the tree lighting and other community programs that for years have been held at the site.”
Other local business people also have helped in this effort, according to Dave. “The acquisition of Jo’An’s was made possible through the efforts of Shane Stewart, broker of Idyllwild Realty, who waived his entire commission, and Bob Hughes of Hughes Properties, who waived a portion of his compensation in order to make Idypark a reality for the benefit and enjoyment of the community.”
Demolition has already begun on the property.
The Butterfields are the donors of the Idyllwild Community Center site and matching donors of the ICC.
