Grist Mill owner gets permit to rebuild

SEEKONK, Mass. (WPRI) - The owner of the Old Grist Mill Tavern has cleared a major hurdle as he looks to rebuild the historic business.

On Monday, the Seekonk Zoning Board of Appeals voted unanimously to grant the necessary permits to Greg Esmay.

The owner has been looking to rebuild the landmark, after it was badly damaged in a fire last month.

• Learn more: Truck fire destroys Old Grist Mill
• Photos: Old Grist Mill fire

Dozens of Seekonk residents packed Monday night's meeting, including Bill and Eleonora Rezek, who own the nearby Jacob Hill Inn.

The couple had a business partnership with the Old Grist Mill Tavern, and said it was tough to see the business burn.

"We're just so choked up, it seems like a bad dream to me," said Bill Rezek.

"It was such a terrible tragedy," said Eleonora Rezek.

Seekonk law allows for the business to be rebuilt the way it was, but Esmay was asking for leeway in case any changes needed to be made.

"The community has been great to us. The town has been fantastic," Esmay said, "The Grist Mill has touched a lot of people for a long time and we hope to continue that."

Esmay is not sure how long it will take to rebuild the business, but hope it will happen before St. Patrick's Day, 2013.

"I can't wait for the ribbon cutting ceremony for their reopening," said Bill Rezek, "It's going to be a really happy day."