The Granary fills breakfast, lunch hour in Lakewood Ranch

LAKEWOOD RANCH -- After their two kids came along in 2010 and 2012, Malcolm and Karen Ronney realized the late hours required by their business, MacAllisters Grill & Tavern, were no longer suitable.

The Ronneys had moved to Lakewood Ranch from Scotland in 2003. About a year later, they opened Mac-Allisters and ran the restaurant successfully until selling it in January to pursue the daytime restaurant they now own and operate, The Granary.

The breakfast-lunch eatery serves traditional breakfast dishes, sandwiches and smoothies. Lunch customers can choose from a selection of salads, sandwiches, quesadillas, soup and more. A kids' menu offers smaller portions and selections for little tykes, while parents enjoy hand-crafted coffee beverages, spirits, beer or wine.

The Granary offers a selection of cookies, brownies, cheesecakes and other sweet treats, and also accepts catering orders. Its decor is inspired by a restaurant frequented often by the Ronneys when they lived in Scotland.

The Granary officially opened on Aug. 31 with about a dozen people on staff. As the restaurant finds its footing and gets busier, Karen Ronney said it may hire more people.

Customers have been steady since the opening, said waiter Justin Hayhurst.

"I like that they did an excellent job with the concept, location and marketing -- obviously, because people are constantly coming in," Hayhurst said. "I love that we put out great food and I don't have to worry about

what's coming out of the kitchen."

The Granary can seat up to 100 people inside, including seating at the bar, and up to 16 outside.

Iain Duthie, a native of Zimbabwe who grew up in South Africa, moved to Lakewood Ranch's Panther Ridge neighborhood in 2002. He sat at the bar enjoying a Stella Artois and The Granary's "Fry Up," complete with eggs, bacon, sausage, mushrooms, grilled tomato and toast. He enjoys talking to the Ronneys, calling their food and service "excellent" and welcoming a new breakfast spot in Lakewood Ranch.

"They didn't have the right Stella glasses for the beer and Malcolm went out of his way and bought me two beers," Duthie said.

The Ronneys say they eventually plan to move back to Scotland. For now, though? Karen Ronney and her husband are enjoying "living the dream."

Janelle O'Dea, Herald business reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7095. Follow her on Twitter@jayohday.

This story was originally published September 10, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "The Granary fills breakfast, lunch hour in Lakewood Ranch ."