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Tea room has new owner; 2 eateries open in Sebring

Jasmina Meyer/Highlands Today

Kelly Kilgo, owner of of the Twin Oaks Tea Room, offers soups, sandwiches, salads and desserts during the summer from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday in downtown Sebring.

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By Bill Rogers | Highlands Today

Published: July 5, 2009

SEBRING - An interior decorator and a single mother of three children ages 11, 7 and 5, Kelly Kilgo has taken on another job – owner of the Twin Oaks Tea Room.

Kilgo bought the two-story building in Sebring from Diana Linzer, and after painting the interior and landscaping the front, opened it in March.

Located at 246 N. Commerce Ave., the tea room is open during the summer from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. The hours in the winter are 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Kilgo said she might open for breakfast next winter.

Kilgo explained that a friend was going to buy the tea room, and she was going to do some interior design work there. The friend decided not to pursue it, and Kilgo began thinking about owning it.

"I prayed about it and thought this would be kind of a cool place," she said.

Twin Oaks can seat 64 people inside and outside on the screened porch for bridal and baby showers and birthday parties. A small wedding could be held there.

The tea room offers soups, sandwiches, salads and desserts.

In addition to the food, antiques, gifts and accessories are also available.

"It's just a relaxing place," Kilgo said. "This is a place to get away."

Clary Jacobs, who has worked at the tea room for several years, is the cook. Kilgo said she also gets help from her family members.

Kilgo grew up in Lake Placid and is a 1991 graduate of Lake Placid High School. She attended South Florida Community College. She previously worked at Artistic Interiors and Turner Furniture and now also owns Designs by Kelly Kilgo LLC.

Delp back in the business
Gordon Delp is back in the restaurant business in Sebring, opening Gordon's Philadelphia Grill and Sub Shop, at 1568 Lakeview Drive.

Taking over the former Ribmaster Bar-B-Que location, the eatery's hours are 10:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

On the menu are hot subs, including the "Real Philly Cheesesteak," cold subs, hot  dogs, spaghetti and salads.

Delp had operated The Philly Grill on Commerce Avenue in Sebring for a little more than a year. He ran the concession operation at the Highlands County Sports Complex last year.

"I can't stand sitting around doing nothing," Delp said when asked about why he wanted to own a restaurant. "I didn't really want to work 50 hours a week again, but this became available and it was hard to resist. Everything was here. All I had to do was walk in and turn it on."

A retired Navy chief cook, Delp, 67, said he has been in the kitchen for more than 50 years.

"You have got to love your work, especially to be in the kitchen," he said. "There is nothing easy about this business. People think you make a lot of money at it. You have got to sell a lot of food to make a lot of money."

The Philadelphia native said he is in a different situation than other restaurant owners.

"I don't have to make a living of this; I'm semi-retired," said Delp, 67. "I do this for the fun, to keep busy and it puts a little play money in my pocket."

Dacia Orrell, who worked for Delp at The Philly Grill, is working in the new restaurant along with Delp's wife, Mary, and a part-timer.

Gyro Plus open seven days a week
Gyro Plus opened last month at 4141 U.S. 27 N. in Sebring. Its hours are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week.

Located in the former Quiznos, Gyro Plus offers a variety of items. There are breakfast sandwiches, bagels, pita wraps, salads, salads with toppings, burgers, sandwiches and platters.

John Agelopoulos and his father, Theodore, own the restaurant. It's the second eatery the family owns in Sebring. Theodore bought the Lakeview Restaurant and Lounge, next to the Kenilworth Lodge, in 2006.

"My dream was to open a fast casual Greek restaurant like Miami Subs, only a little bit better quality with an open kitchen so that everyone could see what we do, what we cook and what we use," John said. "This Quiznos was a good spot, and the opportunity arose and we took it."

John, 28, said he has been in the restaurant business since he was 8 when he was a busboy at the family's first restaurant. He noted the family has owned several diners in South Florida.

John said he feels strongly about "our product" and believes once the word gets out people will come.

"We have everything; there's something for everybody," said John, who is from Boca Raton and has a finance degree from Florida Atlantic University.

Schooni's serving breakfast
Michael Dean hadn't planned on starting breakfast at Schooni's restaurant in Lake Placid, but Dean did so as a result of an unfortunate and unexpected situation involving another restaurant in town.

A fire destroyed Main Street America, which is just a couple blocks away from Schooni's, in May, putting several people out of work. Dean stepped up and decided to add a breakfast menu. He said he hired four servers and cooks from Main Street

"It's a win-win for the community," Dean said

The eatery, 209 N. Main Ave., is offering breakfast from 7 a.m. – 11 Monday through Saturday. It began doing that the second week of June.

Bill Rogers may be reached at 386-5825 or wrogers@highlandstoday.com

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