Sadie Mae's Cafe employee Danielle Henderson does her part in getting the restaurant's new Meadow Street location ready for business, helping paint the building's interior walls last week. It was not the news that Denise Ferguson, more commonly known as "Sadie Mae" to local residents, wanted to pass along to customers anticipating the opening of her restaurant on Meadow Street.

Citing unforeseen circumstances beyond her control, Sadie Mae's Cafe will open July 2.

Ferguson originally hoped to open Thursday. Already approached by several customers anxiously waiting for the opportunity to dine at the restaurant, Ferguson has regretfully had to hand them a pamphlet letting them know the grand opening has been pushed back a week.

"Getting the restaurant opened is important as I need to pay my girls (employees of Sadie Mae's) for their hard work and because cooking for others is something I like to do; so it's important that we get things going," Ferguson said. "This is quite an undertaking; the faster we can get a positive cash flow going, the better."

Sadie Mae's Wilkinsville location closed June 14. During the several years the diner was nestled in Cherokee County's countryside, it became a popular choice for local residents seeking tasty, home-cooked meals.

Ferguson hoped by moving to a larger building in town where most of her customers reside that it would help bring in more clientele and give her the opportunity to do what she loves — cook for others.

"All I want to do is cook," Ferguson said, "and hopefully the time will come soon that I will be able to do so."

Wooden floor panels were installed at the restaurant last week as Ferguson, the staff at Sadie Mae's and other volunteers moved things from the Wilkinsville location to its new home on Meadow Street.

However, much work is still left to be done, including getting a fresh coat of paint on the building's walls and installing items necessary for running a food service operation.

"Everything is coming along good," Ferguson said. "We hope to be ready to go July 2."