It will be Murphy's first renovation in 15 years, and the management expects renovations to be completed by this Friday.
Owner Nigel Leeming initiated the project primarily to increase efficiency of food preparation and service.
"We need to have everything working perfectly so we can keep up with the volume and keep the guests happy," he said. Previously, Murphy's small kitchen has had to handle and process an overwhelming number of orders. Leeming said that in the course of 15 years, "2 million meals" have been prepared in the old kitchen.
Despite the fact that Hanover's eateries usually overflow with Dartmouth parents visiting the area during the First-Year Family Weekend, Murphy's pushed on with construction through this past weekend's annual event. However, general manager Shawn Furbish is not worried about the temporary setback in business.
"I think with our client base, yes, it hurts, but we're making it better for everybody," he said. Furbish is confident that the new additions and updates will ultimately result in better business and increased employee happiness. Leeming agreed on this point.
"In terms of one week or another, it doesn't really matter," he said. He added that since winter weather can make renovation difficult, Murphy's decided to wait until this spring to begin the work.
Although the renovations will be mostly internal and unseen by customers, Furbish expects the general execution of kitchen functions and employee duties to become more manageable as a result of the changes.
One of the direct effects of this new equipment will be faster, stronger ovens that speed up the processing of orders. Leeming said that improvements like these will reduce the stress of employees in the kitchen, as well as make it easier to manage day-to-day cleaning of the facilities. The restaurant will also be working on menu adjustments and refinement.
Leeming does not forsee further internal changes to Murphy's in the near future.
"This is one of those one-time major stops -- you gotta do it," he said. "You do the overhaul, and from then on, it can last a long time."
