Ferguson’s ready for a close-up

For generations, Ferguson’s Cafe on Garland has been synonymous with great breakfast. Eggs and hash browns, bacon and sausage, home-cooked, piled high and served hot.

The restaurant has been where it is since the mid-’30s, at one point it was known as Sanders Restaurant, but it’s been Ferguson’s since 1947.

So when owners Jim and Bob Adolfson decided their cafe needed a little face-lift they quickly realized too much change wasn’t a good thing.

“We have a lot of regulars and they feel like it’s their place, their restaurant,” said Jim Adolfson, who manages the restaurant. “And you want to respect that. You don’t want to make too much change.”

That’s where Kristen Fail and Amy Larson entered the stage. Together they own Creative Options Unlimited – a local design, event planning and custom gift business – and they were excited to get a chance at sprucing up Ferguson’s.

“We had all these ideas and wanted to make all these changes,” said Fail, standing in the entrance of the cafe last week. “But we quickly pulled back and decided to keep a lot of things the way they were, but with new colors.”

Fail and Larson also wanted to make Ferguson’s film history the focal point of the cafe, rather than a side act.

Three movies, “Vision Quest,” “Benny & Joon” and “Why Would I Lie?” all used Ferguson’s as part of their set, and now the posters are prominently displayed at the entrance.

“I know it’s some time ago,” said Adolfson, laughing. “But look at an actor like Johnny Depp – he went on to do great things, all because of Ferguson’s.”

The biggest change is the freshly painted walls and new beadboard paneling by the door, all painted in a warm yellow color.

“We wanted it to have this warm, old movie theater feel,” said Fail. “Once we knew what we were doing with the colors, it only took a day to finish up.”

Peculiarly, diners now think the restaurant has gotten new wallpaper and even new booths, Adolfson said, all of which is still the same.

“I guess they notice things now that they didn’t see before,” he said.

That, said Fail, is because of the new color.

“You can decorate and decorate, but the color makes a huge difference, it can make everything stand out,” said Fail. New dark tablecloths cover the tables and the mural, which was always on the side of the kitchen area, now stands out so much so that some people notice it for the first time.

Adolfson couldn’t be happier with the result.

“It was kind of emotional when I walked in here and it was done,” he said. “I mean, it looked so good. And the response from people has just been so positive. I’d say it’s a home run.”