When Sophie and Lefteris Karagiannis decided to open The Brickyard Grounds, they had no idea that they would be undertaking an archaeological dig of sorts. But when the contractors arrived and started to tear down the layers of old signs, drywall and concrete, they uncovered buried treasure. Amongst their finds were three signs from when the store was a Native Canadian Arts & Crafts Gallery. They turned one of the signs into the community table that greets customers as they enter the restaurant, and the other decorates the side of the service counter. “By stripping it down we’ve exposed its beauty,” notes Sophie, alluding to the warm brick walls and polished original hardwood floors that were buried under three inches of concrete. The Brickyard Grounds is now a glowing testament to the original beauty of the building, as well as a home to the history of the old Gerrard East neighbourhood.
