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City Post Chophouse received the Texas Downtown Association's 2023 President’s Award for Best Renovation/Rehabilitation/Restoration
We are pleased to announce that the Texas Downtown Association has awarded City Post Chophouse its 2023 President’s Award for “Best Renovation/Rehabilitation/Restoration.” Many thanks to Texas Downtown for recognizing the extensive work our team of architects and tradespeople did to renovate Georgetown’s original U.S. Post Office into the beautiful fine dining steakhouse it is today, while also restoring many of the building’s features to their original 1930s glory. “We are honored to have received this prestigious award after our careful focus on historical accuracy during the renovation,” says City Post Owner Kevin Cummins. “I am incredibly proud of the work we did to preserve so much of the original beauty of our building.”
In 1931, the U.S. government hired the Landis and Young firm of Bloomington, Indiana to construct a post office at the corner of 8th and Church Streets in Georgetown, Texas, on the site of the previous Snyder and Bryson livery stable.
Constructed with the care and craftsmanship typical of the early 1900s, the building featured Texas pink granite and marble from Missouri and Georgia on the stunning exterior, while exquisite tile work and mahogany trim added warmth and character to the interior. The building as a whole is a testament to the skill and artistry of the craftsmen who built it.
Construction was completed and the building opened in December 1932. It remained the Georgetown Post Office until 1990 when the City of Georgetown acquired the site to serve as City Hall. It 2018, the City consolidated its offices in a new building and put the former post office up for bid.
Kevin attended the open house and was “captivated by the bones of the building and the possibilities for the space.” Along with a group of financial backers, he and local architect Gary Wang made a last-minute proposal to the City detailing their idea for City Post Chophouse. “We weren’t expecting our proposal to win,” says Kevin, “but it did!”
Demolition began in the summer of 2019, along with the complex permitting process. “We worked with Georgetown’s Historic and Architectural Review Committee (HARC) and with the State of Texas to preserve as much as possible, while completely updating the infrastructure and adding a commercial kitchen,” explains Kevin.
In March 2020, Kevin held an open house and “hard hat tour” for community members and potential investors. “A week later, the world shut down,” he says. After some serious prayer, he and his small team decided to move forward with the project.
One of the biggest priorities was to honor the original architecture and structure of the building by preserving and reincorporating as many of the original elements as possible. Although, after servicing as City Hall for nearly three decades, the building had a decidedly “municipal” feel, the original character of the building hadn’t been destroyed, but rather covered up. Much of the original wood floors, trim, and tilework were - thankfully - discovered intact beneath layers of drywall and carpet.
Kevin explains that throughout the renovation process, careful attention was paid to the original architecture. “We began the renovation by removing the beige and green paint and carpet. Once the original materials were exposed, we began bringing them back to their former glory, repairing the woodwork, refinishing the brick, and restoring the original floors.” As many of the original elements of the Post Office as possible were also preserved, including the original post boxes, which are now used to treat City Post Members to special surprises each month.
“Our renovation of the old post office was complex and challenging, but also rewarding,” says Kevin. “We are proud to have preserved this important piece of our community’s history.” The building is currently on the National Register of Historic Places as a contributing property in the Williamson County Courthouse Historic District.
The vision of City Post is “to be the cornerstone of downtown Georgetown, Texas.” Important to that vision was the renovation, rehabilitation, and restoration of our building. Thanks again to the Texas Downtown Association for recognizing the hard work and dedication it takes to preserve these beautiful old downtown buildings. Many thanks also to our team and our guests, who are the driving force behind what we do. We look forward to hosting you for your next special dinner or occasion in our very special building, where you’ll experience our unique ambiance, impeccable customer service, and the best steaks and seafood right here in Georgetown.
Texas Downtown supports Texas’ downtown professionals by providing resources, information, and networking to business owners and city employees. The Association’s President’s Award Program has recognized outstanding projects, places, and people of Texas downtowns since 1986. The Best Renovation/Rehabilitation/Restoration Award recognizes excellence in rehabilitation (i.e., renovation or remodeling) or restoration of the interior or exterior of an existing building, focusing on the retention and preservation of historic materials and features, finishes, spaces, and spatial relationships that give a property its historic character.
