A small gathering of Cardiff family members, friends and city officials gathered April 20 to commemorate the unveiling of a sign marking the J.V. Cardiff & Sons Rice Drier, 5351 1^st St.

The ceremony, which took place across the street in the Texas Traditions restaurant parking lot at 5321 Highway Blvd., gave people the chance to remember an era long passed but remembered fondly by longtime area residents.

According to the Katy Heritage Society, J.V. Cardiff and his sons opened the rice drier in 1943, before Katy incorporated as a city two years later. Business went well and the family built a second drier in 1945. This new drier had twice the capacity of the first.

By 1966, the Cardiff family hired a Kansas firm to build a third drier. It stood 177 feet and was the tallest drier in the nation. For those driving along Interstate 10 between Houston and Brookshire, the drier served as a landmark to break up the monotony of driving on the highway. The drier today remains the tallest structure in Katy, Richmond and Rosenberg.

By 1987, the drier ended its production and has sat, unused and neglected, since then.

More recently, a developer saw potential in turning the drier, a staple of Katy’s past, into an entertainment center that could become a staple of Katy’s future.

Hadi “Andrew” Nurcahya bought the property and began working last year with the Katy Heritage Society on a renovation. Utility lines are being installed and other building renovations are taking place. Earlier this month, the city approved the first part of the civil permit, which will include 980 feet of pipes.

The Katy Beer Garden is being built on the property and is to be the first of several developments there. One thing about this beer garden, Nurcahya said, is that it will in fact be a garden, and not a row of tables.

“This is going to be all nice seating under the trees,” Nurcahya said.

Originally, Nurcahya said, the plan was to develop the property all at once. But rising interest rates compelled him to split up the projects. Nevertheless, he said, the infrastructure needed is in the works right now. He said he did not want to rip up the ground again after the infrastructure gets installed.

Nurcahya said a three-story building will be built next to the beer garden. The first floor will feature a food court with several restaurants. He said the restaurants are intended to be fun and upscale, as the beer garden will not be selling food. Office space and an event space will be on the top two floors.

Nurcahya said the original plan was to build everything at once but the decision was made to focus on one phase at a time.

The portion of the drier most easily seen from Highway Boulevard is expected to house a restaurant and feature green space, with a Katy-themed museum and gift shop between the structure and where the beer garden and office/restaurant building will be. And, in a nod to Katy’s railroad heritage, plans include building a miniature train track around the garden space.

Bringing people downtown has been an ongoing goal of city leaders. In recent months, the downtown area has seen the opening of the Katy Crossing Icehouse, 5733 2^nd St., and the expected opening of the Southern Dough Baking Co, 908 Ave. B.

The rice dryer isn’t part of downtown, but it is expected to bring business into the city. Mayor Dusty Thiele said with this and future downtown-area attractions, people won’t have to look for entertainment spots outside of Katy.

One Cardiff member said the family hoped to hold its family reunion this fall at the beer garden.

Among the family members at the ceremony were Chris and Bill Cardiff. They are cousins and both retired. They are also grandsons of J.V. Cardiff. Chris Cardiff admitted to being emotional about the renovation.

“It brings tears to my eyes when I see this happening,” Cardiff said.

Bill Cardiff was also happy, but for a different reason.

“Thank goodness I’m not up there having to do all this stuff,” he said.