Call it a spirited restaurant.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 like to use the word 鈥榟aunted,鈥欌�� said Ernie Fidanza, owner of in 鈥� a historic property.
He did, however, have the 100-year-old Mission-style house spiritually cleansed before moving in three years ago.
The restaurant, set in a home built in 1924 and owned by the daughter of , had a presence that prevented him from entering when he bought it, he said.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 want to go in it. A worker for the city in Jupiter heard me say I bought it sight unseen, and took me aside to tell me about her cousin who could cleanse the house for me. I told her it didn鈥檛 need cleaning. Then she explained it was a cleansing of negative energy.鈥�
Fidanza rescued the dilapidated property in 2016, saving it from the wrecking ball with a goal of sharing its history.
鈥淭oo much of Jupiter has been demolished. Only a few original houses from the town remain,鈥� he said.
His pursuit of the preservation of the town鈥檚 buildings led him to form the in 2016, which he leads today.
But before taking on all the construction to turn the house into a restaurant, he had to get rid of what he said was 鈥渟omething off鈥� that was blocking him from going inside.
鈥淚t didn鈥檛 feel right,鈥� he said, after attempting a walk-through. 鈥淚 had a bad feeling about it.鈥�
Still skeptical about mediums and spirits, he called Michael Verdan, who says he has spirit contacts routinely.
鈥淪ince I was a child, I鈥檝e been what I call sensitive. I see shadows and I hear people talking,鈥� Verdan said. As he grew into adulthood, he said, his ability to communicate with the spirit world has grown.
Verdan, who grew up in Joliet, Illinois, said he inherited the sensitivity from his grandmother and others on both sides of his family.
Before The Sims House cleansing, he talked only briefly with Fidanza.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 want to know any of the history of the property. Nothing, maybe a first name. I want to go in with a clear mind,鈥� Verdan said.
His method is to walk onto the property and then go where he is drawn. 鈥淚t鈥檚 like a magnetic pull,鈥� he said.
He鈥檚 drawn to energy, whether active or residual. 鈥淥thers perceive the energy, but because they don鈥檛 understand it or feel it as I do, they automatically think it鈥檚 evil.鈥�
Sometimes, he said, the energy appears as a shadow or a form; other times he hears the people and converses with them.
鈥淚 have to figure it out, then I know what to do with it. They鈥檙e just looking to be understood,鈥� Verdan said.
They know he鈥檚 sympathetic, he said, and once the spirit is convinced he鈥檚 friendly and means no harm, everything is put right.
鈥淚 bring positive energy, and get rid of any negative.鈥�
At Sims, he said he felt the presence of an older gentleman, who wasn鈥檛 angry, but was guarding the house 鈥� protecting it.
鈥淚 told him the new owner was going to take care of it and preserve it.鈥�
That satisfied the spirit, he said, and the negative energy was replaced by positive.
He also had a vision of an older woman with her hair upswept. She moves in and out of the house, he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 her happy space. She loved this house.鈥�
Though Verdan didn鈥檛 get their names, owner Fidanza is sure it was the original owners: Essie Sims, daughter of Jupiter鈥檚 first postmistress, and her spouse, Eli.
Now, Fidanza co-exists with Essie鈥檚 spirit, 鈥淚 don鈥檛 like to say ghosts.鈥�
His diners have had experiences with her, he said.
鈥淪ome people talk about a chill, or have trouble breathing and I know what鈥檚 happening,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 take them outside for a minute, and everything is OK.鈥�
The Sims House still flies under the radar for many. It鈥檚 innocuous on Center Street, which no longer is the town鈥檚 main drag.
It doesn鈥檛 even sport a sign to let passersby know it鈥檚 a restaurant.
Fidanza completed the renovation in 2021 to make it a public restaurant. He shares its history 鈥� sans spirits 鈥� with everyone who dines.
Dining is by reservation only, and there are 69 seats. A large outdoor patio is used for events.
In Eli and Essie鈥檚 day, the house was a popular society gathering place, and today it is designated as a locally historic landmark.
An American menu that changes daily is served, with ingredients sourced locally whenever possible. 鈥淲e get all our produce from Hibiscus Food Market,鈥� Fidanza said. Seafood providers also are from the area.
Francisco Landin, the longtime chef of the former Jupiter favorite, Tabica Grill, is chef.
Along with things like churrasco steak, and local fresh fish, he鈥檒l occasionally pull out a Tabica recipe, Fidanza said. 鈥淲e had the pork osso buco, and snapper piccata on the menu recently. There鈥檚 the seventh-generation meatloaf, always a favorite.鈥�
There鈥檚 entertainment a few times a month, with a comedy night on the last Friday of the month, followed Saturday night by a supper club.
The restaurant serves dinner only, Tuesday through Saturday, by reservation only. Prices range from moderate to expensive. No walk-ins accepted. There鈥檚 a wait list in season, Fidanza said.
The Sims House Restaurant, 322 Center St., Jupiter, Fla., 33458. Phone 561-431-4336. Find it online .
This story was originally published by , a SA国际传谋 News partner.
