PHOTO PROVIDED Renovo Mayor Gene Bruno recently met with the former Yesterday’s building owner, Ed Balarin, of Albany, N.Y., as the developer beginnings to plan for the spaces future.

RENOVO — Since late last week, there’s been a buzz around the former Yesterday’s Restaurant.

That buzz continues to grow as the historic building’s new owner, Ed Balarin, has been able to get electricity back on at the building.

Balarin is excited to reopen the building and the past few days have proved rather eventful in developments at the space — that includes a new restaurant proposal from a local couple.

“A PPL inspector passed us; we have our utilities up and running and are really happy to be on the pace that we are,” Balarin said of the progress.

The Albany, N.Y. man has been on scene at the former YMCA and meeting neighbors.

Balarin said that the interest and passion of the community was remarkable. Many approached him after reading an article in The Express, he said.

“We actually had a number of people stop by after the article inquiring about the rental. A local couple, life-long residents of the community, are opening up the entire first floor — including the restaurant and ice cream parlor,” Balarin said. For now, he’s keeping the couple’s names out of the public, he said.

“I want to really thank everyone that has helped so far. We hired 15 people at $20 an hour and many worked 10-hour days to fill three 40-yard dumpsters over the last few days,” Balarin explained. Balarin has been joined by his wife, Anna, in putting in the work to the building.

“It was a great way to meet people from the community. Everyone that helped was from the area, and they put in some great work. I think we were all pretty ecstatic to see things move so quickly,” he explained.

Balarin thanked borough officials for their support as well.

“Anna and I certainly owe a thanks to Mayor Gene Bruno. As we started to get the workers lined up, I don’t think we’d have come up with the dumpsters as quickly as we needed them. Gene went to work for us and had everything that we needed for weekend — which included the drop off and emptying of the three 40-yard dumpsters,” Balarin said.

Plans are still in place for a soft opening of the first week of May, which would include the availability of five to ten rooms. The restaurant will take more time and is at the renter’s discretion.

“This young couple has been in the business of renovating hotels. Their vision is to bring life back to the building that is such a strong part of the community and that has been dormant,” said Renovo Mayor Gene Bruno. “Renovo’s goal is to bring a positive tax base with recreation being the future of the growth, positive changes are coming, we welcome and appreciate all of the positive plans of Mr. Balarin.”