Former Vernon Inn building, once home of The Greek Place, to be demolished

CEDAR RAPIDS - Demolition has begun on a building that housed a restaurant serving Greek food in southeast Cedar Rapids.

The Vernon Inn, 2663 Mount Vernon Rd. SE, closed in May 2012. The restaurant, also known as The Greek Place, was part of the Cedar Rapids restaurant scene for 36 years at two different locations.

Larry Sharp of Sharp & Co. Realtors in Cedar Rapids said a national auto parts chain is considering the location for a store. A final decision may not be made until late this year.

The Vernon Inn began in 1976 in a small leased pub space across Mount Vernon Road SE from the restaurant's last location.

In January 2012, the Cedar Rapids City Council declined to take up rezoning of the former Vernon Inn property for a Kum & Go convenience store. The council had received a petition with 326 signatures opposing the Kum & Go proposal.