Charles Ciurca told the Times of Wayne County that he and his wife Lynnette went on a few of their first dates at Spinelli's Restaurant, which once filled the main floor of the Garlock House at 401 East Main Street. Earlier this year the couple bought the building. On Saturday, December 5, it opens to the public as one stop on Historic Palmyra's "Homes for the Holiday" tour, and the renovation is still months from finished.
Historic Palmyra describes the 2026 route as including "new homes and a few new businesses," and it runs in a shorter afternoon window than either of the last two Decembers. This year's tour is about what Palmyra is turning into, and the Garlock House shows that most clearly.
Three Decembers of the Same Tour
Historic Palmyra's event listings for the past three years show how the tour has shifted.
| 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Saturday, Dec. 7 | Saturday, Dec. 6 | Saturday, Dec. 5 |
| Hours | 3 to 7 p.m. | 3 to 7 p.m. | 2 to 5 p.m. |
| Starting point | 140 Market St., the Phelps family home | Alling Coverlet Museum, 122 William St. | 140 Market St., the Phelps family's Victorian home |
| Tickets | $30 presale, $35 at the door | $30 advance, $35 at the door | $30 presale, $35 at the door |
Ticket prices haven't changed in three years. What changed is the timing. This year's tour starts an hour earlier and ends two hours earlier, so the window is three hours instead of four. Anyone used to arriving around dusk and walking the route after dark should plan for an earlier start.
The way the tour describes itself has changed too. In 2024, Historic Palmyra advertised eight stops: four homes, two museums, the Grandin Building, and a wine tasting at Frank's Wine and Liquors. The 2025 listing promised "the beauty of our historic homes in and around the village." The 2026 listing leads with new homes and new businesses instead. Ticket holders start at 140 Market Street, where they get a map, shoe coverings, and a handmade gift from the museums. The tour goes on rain, snow, or shine, and tickets are not refundable. Questions go to Historic Palmyra at 315-597-6981. The organizer has announced the starting point, and the Times of Wayne County has confirmed the Garlock House. The rest of the stops will be on the map handed out at the door.
What's Inside 401 East Main Right Now
The Garlock House dates to 1812. It was once home to O.J. Garlock, founder of Garlock Packing, and later served as a restaurant and party house that drew guests from well beyond the village. After several owners tried and failed to keep the business going, the building sat empty for years.
In 2020, developer Tom Salviski stepped in and replaced the aging wiring and windows, its first major renovation in decades. He didn't plan to run it himself. According to the Times of Wayne County, he was waiting for the right people with the right idea to take it over.
The Ciurcas, who own Salmon Creek Cabinetry, plan to turn the house into "Garlock Grove Estates," a short-term rental and event house for bridal showers, weekend getaways, and small gatherings, with overnight room for up to 20 guests. The former restaurant covers more than 5,000 square feet. Most of it will become a large commercial kitchen, a game room, and open gathering space, and the old parking lot is being converted to outdoor space.
Each floor is at a different stage. The second floor will stay as long-term rentals. The third floor is due for renovation later and still has scorch marks on its beams from a fire years ago. To restore the original trim and accents, Charles told the paper, the couple has been gathering old photographs to identify the house's original woodwork.
"The community has been so supportive which has been a huge thing for us."
Lynnette Ciurca, speaking to the Times of Wayne County
The couple posts progress updates on "The Historic Garlock House" Facebook page. Their Salmon Creek Cabinetry showroom moved to Main Street, a short walk from the Garlock property. The paper describes exposed brick walls and original tin ceilings the Ciurcas restored, plus a doorway into an adjoining antique shop stacked floor to ceiling. Anyone who wants a preview of the Garlock House can stop by the showroom first.
The Market Street Block Where the Tour Begins
The tour's new businesses and buildings in progress branch out from the oldest part of the village. Historic Palmyra runs five museums, and four of them sit on a single block of Market Street:
- Alling Coverlet Museum and Gift Shop, 122 William St., home to the coverlet collection and the 2025 tour's starting point
- Palmyra Historical Museum, 132 Market St., where the museums' tours begin
- Erie Canal Depot, 136 Market St.
- Palmyra Print Shop, on the same Market Street block
- Phelps General Store, 140 Market St., which includes the Phelps family residence where this year's tour starts
Change on this block hasn't waited for December. At the Veterans Day event in November, Historic Palmyra will unveil its newly designed military rooms at the Historical Museum. Even the museums that anchor a heritage tour are reworking their own exhibits this year.
Historic Palmyra's winter hours begin November 1. Call 315-597-6981 for the current schedule before planning a weekday visit.
Three Museum Dates Before the Tour
The museums' calendar from now through December 5 is short:
- Palmyra Walking Tour (Daylight Edition), Saturday, Nov. 7, 2 to 4 p.m. The group meets at 132 Market St. and covers just under a mile of village history "with a little mystery intertwined." Rain or shine, no refunds.
- Veterans Day Salute and Lecture, Wednesday, Nov. 11, 7 to 8:30 p.m., at the Historical Museum, 132 Market St. Museum Assistant Meghan Leiter covers Palmyra veterans from the American Revolution through World War I, and the new military rooms are unveiled. Admission is free. RSVP at 315-597-6981 or [email protected].
- Junior Ghost Hunters, Wednesday, Nov. 25, 6 to 8 p.m., at 132 Market St., for ages 10 to 15. Adults must sign a waiver.
- "Homes for the Holiday" House Tour, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2 to 5 p.m., starting at 140 Market St.
The walking tour runs the same 2 p.m. Saturday slot that the house tour will use a month later, so it doubles as a practice run for the route, the parking, and how long a walk across the village takes in cold weather.
After 5 p.m. on East Main Street
With the tour ending at 5, there's time for dinner on East Main Street, close to the Garlock House. The Town of Palmyra's business directory lists The Hog and Hen at 201 E. Main St., Frank's Wine and Liquor at 202 E. Main St., Happiness Garden at 212 E. Main St., and Lock 29 Tavern at 222 E. Main St., along with Nima's Pizzeria at 165 E. Main St. and Mark's Pizzeria at 240 E. Main St. Wayne County Tourism lists Drumlins Brewing Company at 235 E. Main St. Frank's hosted the wine tasting on the 2024 tour.
The Grandin Building at 217 E. Main St., a stop on the 2024 tour, is the historic printing office where the first copies of the Book of Mormon were printed and bound. It offers free guided tours of its restored printing rooms. Hours change by season, so check them before you go.
The village's own holiday kickoff was a separate event last year. FingerLakes1 reported that on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, Palmyra held a Holiday Pop-Up Market at Palmyra Community Library and merchant activities through the day, then a 5 p.m. Parade of Lights from the fairgrounds to Village Park, with Santa, caroling, and the tree lighting in the park. The Village of Palmyra website is the place to watch for this year's date.
Our team has spent more than 40 years watching old Finger Lakes buildings like the Garlock House take on new uses, from restaurant to vacant to event house, and we follow every one of those changes. If you own an older home in Palmyra or elsewhere in Wayne County and want to talk through what its history and condition mean for its value, Griffith Realty Group is glad to help. Contact Us for a Confidential Consultation.
