You can feel the site's age as soon as you get to the front door.

That's because, since its construction in about 1890, it's been everything from a boardinghouse to a drugstore.

Jackson's taken those historical roots and turned it into a unique dining experience. His goal, he said, was to highlight areas of the building that he thought deserved attention - the original hardwood floors, the elaborate piping across the vaulted ceiling (read: 20 feet plus), the oversized windows and so much more.

"There's just a lot of character," he said.

He topped all that originality off with 32 speakers that pipe in music via Sirius satellite radio.

"I wanted more of a lively place," Jackson said.

The 155-seat restaurant has been running for a little less than two months

Jackson said he spent so much time focusing on the details - he sat in more than 130 chairs before choosing the right one - because he wants his restaurant to be a destination.

Staff writer Justin Chappell can be reached at 298-4267.