Ten years ago, few would have imagined that the house at 322 Center Street in Jupiter, run-down and so overgrown with weeds it was barely visible from the street, held a long-forgotten place in the town’s history. Jupiter resident Ernie Fidanza would drive by the house and wonder what the story was behind this sad property. One day, he decided to find out.
The Mission-style home was built in 1924 by Eli Sims, who is considered one of Jupiter’s founding fathers. Sims’ wife, Essie, was the daughter of Charlie Pierce, a Barefoot Mailman, and Ethel Sims, Jupiter’s first female postmaster. “I never understood why people didn’t take an interest [in the house],” says Fidanza, who went to the town and asked about the home. “They told me it was a troubled property, but no one had talked to the owners.” Fidanza tracked down the owners and eventually got them to sell him the property, as well
as the one next door.
He petitioned the town for a new ordinance that would allow for adaptive reuse of historical properties, a designation that allows old properties to be used for a different reason than originally intended. The ordinance not only allowed Fidanza to convert 322 Center Street into a restaurant but also paved the way for other historical homes to be adapted and preserved. A passionate advocate for the preservation of Jupiter’s history, Fidanza founded the Jupiter Historical Society in 2016 and was very committed to preserving the history of The Sims House.
After four years of careful renovations, The Sims House restaurant opened in 2021. Inside the original glass-paned front doors, those in the know can now experience the 100-year-old history of The Sims House, including its original floors and fireplace and copies of a 1912 land deed signed by President William Taft that was found in the attic during renovation.
The Sims House kitchen is helmed by Executive Chef Francisco Landin, formerly of Tabica Grill. Fidanza was able to recruit the chef and acquire the restaurant’s much-loved recipes after the popular dining spot closed. The daily-changing menu includes entrées like locally sourced mahi with house-made mango salsa and churrasco skirt steak with chimichurri sauce. A glass of wine from the impressive wine list curated by sommelier Sophia Crawford can be enjoyed on the quaint, brick-lined outdoor patio.
Fidanza hopes that when people come to The Sims House, they not only enjoy a delicious dinner but also take home a new appreciation for the Jupiter community and its history. “I never could have gotten to where I’m at without community support,” he says. “For me, it’s about the fabric of our history and the memories that are made to last for a lifetime.”
The Sims House is open for dinner Tuesday through Saturday. For reservations (required), call 561.431.4336 or click “Book Now” on their Facebook page.
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