An organization in Jefferson recently held a special event to introduce a new restaurateur for a revitalized eating establishment.

Grand Junction resident Sara Ostrander is the new restaurateur of the former Angie’s Tea Garden, with the new name of “The Centennial: Contemporary Taste, Historic Charm.” Ostrander is a 2002 Jefferson-Scranton High School graduate, who earned a culinary arts training degree from Indian Hills Community College and a bachelor’s degree in business management from William Penn University. 

Ostrander worked for 14 years as the nutrition services manager at Dallas County Hospital, two years as a banquet cook at the Marriott Hotel in Des Moines and most recently as the food and nutrition service manager at Clive Behavioral Health. She described how she felt as the new restaurateur of The Centennial.

“It’s a dream, it really is. It’s something you think about and then you just, you get busy with life and you’re content where you are. It feels surreal honestly, it’s kind of like, ‘Are you kidding me? What a great gift this is.’ I’m so thankful for all the people that have supported this project and the people who thought of me. I’m just grateful to be back here doing this.” 

Ostrander takes over for Angie Pedersen, who owned and operated Angie’s Tea Garden until the business was forced to close in February of 2019 after a broken water line from the abandoned upper story apartment flooded the main floor restaurant. Pedersen then took employment at Hotel Pattee and decided this past February to continue working at the hotel. 

Why Not Us President Peg Raney talked about her reaction when the Board chose Ostrander, after Jenny Wessling reached out to her about the new position.

“She’s perfect. She has youth, she has ideas, she has enthusiasm. The first time that we were talking with her, she could picture being able to cater things, special events. She understands the speciality of that type of a restaurant and the draw that it has for people who want to come to a unique restaurant like that.”    

Why Not Us purchased the building from the City of Jefferson, after a new roof was installed. The all-female organization has selected Westbrooke Construction to complete the renovations and Raney is hoping to have the restaurant open by next spring. Raney adds they are accepting donations toward the project. Email them at whynotustea@gmail.com.