Since Hotel Pattee Owner Tom Maxwell took over the historic Perry landmark, he and his staff have been frequently tweaking the menu at David’s Milwaukee Diner to make it more appealing to a wider audience.

However, after months of gaining little traction in appealing to the residents of Perry as a place they can go to any day of the week, Maxwell believes he’s finally found the answer. He recently announced that he has struck a deal with Katie Harvey, owner of Harvey’s Diner and Pub in Redfield, which will move her restaurant into Hotel Pattee. Maxwell says he made the trip to the diner and loved the food, but more importantly he was impressed with the energy and excitement Harvey brought to the dining experience.

The two began working on an agreement, and before long a plan was in place to turn David’s Milwaukee Diner into Harvey’s at Hotel Pattee. Maxwell emphasizes it was a partnership that made a lot of sense. “It just married with the timing of what we were contemplating doing here at our restaurant. And just trying to figure out: how do we keep getting better, what do we need to do to get better? And after spending time with this lady (Harvey), you realize pretty quickly that if she can be on your team you should try to make it happen if you can.”

For Harvey, she believes it’s the right time and opportunity, and adds that she was drawn to the passion Maxwell has for the hotel and restaurant. However, she says it will be bittersweet to leave her establishment in Redfield, and knows it will be hard to say goodbye. “It’s important for me to tell them (her patrons) face-to-face, and for them to come in and yell at me about it. But it’s not far, and I still live there. We’re not abandoning, we’re expanding. It’s an opportunity for the brand and for the experience to grow. There is a bigger reach, there is a bigger audience. It’s always been a big thing for me to be where there’s need. But I’m ready to grow, and pairing it with the hotel, and pairing it with Perry, and especially with Tom is right. It feels right!”

Harvey’s at Hotel Pattee will officially open on November 25th, and there’s already an event to be catered that day. Harvey says she’s not afraid of big events, though, and in fact it’s something she’s very excited about jumping into. To hear more from Harvey and Maxwell, listen to the two-part Perry Fareway Let’s Talk Dallas County program this coming Wednesday and Thursday on air and at RaccoonValleyRadio.com.