Wards Grill, a landmark in downtown Saluda that closed in February, will reopen tomorrow, say new owners Clark Thompson and Judy Ward. Breakfast will be served at 6:30 a.m.

At 10:30 a.m. the rights to the first hamburger cooked in Wards Grill will be auctioned off. Thompson will cook the burger, and Ward will serve it to the top bidder.

All proceeds from the auction will be matched, up to $500, by the Grill and donated to the Saluda School playground project in memory of the Ward family, Roy, Lola, Jack, and Charlie.

In February the fate of the 60-year old Thompsons Store and Wards Grill was uncertain.&bsp; After buying these businesses from the family-owned proprietor, Charlie Ward, and operating the businesses for three years in a down economy, the current owners were calling it quits and closing the doors. After opening almost every day except Sunday for more than six decades, the heart of Saluda was boarded up and went dark.

Thanks to the efforts of Thompson, a Saluda native, and Ward, who is the widow of Charlie Ward, the grill will open again tomorrow. They formed a partnership to purchase and operate the businesses and the 6,000 square feet of buildings. Renovations have started to improve the grill and store. &bsp;

Renovation work on the Thompsons Store side will take more time to complete as will the expanded cooking facilities for the grill. The goal is to offer totally new and unique tastes in dining.

However, Thompson and Ward say the original grill and its menu will remain basically the same. The biggest change patrons will notice is the expanded seating area to accommodate more customers. And, of course, Charlie Wards homemade sausage will again take center stage. A website is planned from which to offer overnight delivery of Charlies sausage to out-of-town customers.

As our work begins, my larger dream is to encourage and assist others in Saluda in the creation of a master plan which will assure the preservation of our community for future generations. Now I am being provided an opportunity to give back to the place of my birth and upbringing, said Clark Thompson.

Thompsons Store and Wards Grill was founded by Roy and Lola Ward in 1939.