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Popular Little River Cafe will open in Oregonia soon

Owner of the Little River Cafe Mark Burris is rebuilding his Oregonia restaurant after a fire destroyed it in 2009. The riverside hangout will feature live music and a full bar, and will serve items such as burgers, seafood and sandwiches. Staff photo by Apryl Pilolli

Apryl Pilolli Owner of the Little River Cafe Mark Burris is rebuilding his Oregonia restaurant after a fire destroyed it in 2009. The riverside hangout will feature live music and a full bar, and will serve items such as burgers, seafood and sandwiches. Staff photo by Apryl Pilolli

By Sara Dorn, Staff Writer Updated 11:13 AM Monday, June 14, 2010

OREGONIA — On a bleak February 2009 morning, Mark Burris stood in front of the charred remains of his beloved restaurant.

A million thoughts raced through his head as he looked at what once was the Little River Cafe, a well-know restaurant he owned for nine years in this little Warren County town on the banks of the Little Miami River.

The restaurant, a popular hangout for bicyclists riding the Little Miami Scenic Trail, was destroyed after a fire started in an exhaust fan in the men’s bathroom.

“Once I got over the initial shock of (the fire), I planned (the new building) out in my head and pretty much everything is the way I wanted it,” Burris said.

Now, a little more than a year later, he has overcome the trauma of losing his business and is working diligently to reopen a new version of the restaurant.

“Everything is new, the whole layout is different, a lot more openness, a bigger bar,” he said

With the devoted support of the cafe’s patrons, Burris said he believes the new restaurant will continue its success.

“It’s a good, quaint place to come,” once and future Little River Cafe patron Cyndi Sexton said.

Sexton, who is now a Lebanon resident, once lived in the house where the restaurant is located. Her family bought the home in 1962 and resided there for approximately 10 years before the house became a restaurant.

Burris has owned the 5527 Oregonia Road property since 2001. The original building was constructed in the 1860s and was a cafe for more than 30 years.

Burris said he plans to reopen in about three weeks.

“We get a big local following, they come from all over and in the summer we get a huge motorcycle and bike following,” Burris said. “People keep coming by and asking ‘when do you open? when do you open? when do you open?’”

The riverside hangout will feature live music, a full bar and will serve items such as burgers, seafood and sandwiches.

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