DeKALB | The House, 263 E. Lincoln Highway, is in the middle of big preparations by replacing equipment, assembling acts and constructing business hours and menu items for its Oct. 15 opening.

The House is set to reopen under the management of Mark and Martha Robinson, owners of Martha’s Kitchen, 302 Van Buren St. in Malta.

The establishment is shooting for acts to be booked by the second week of October.

“We had to order equipment that we didn’t originally think we would have to order,” Martha said. “We are kind of starting from scratch. I’m confident we will be ready to book acts for the second week of October.”

The Robinsons are planning on continuing to work with Joel Kennedy, former booker for The House, and Kickstand Productions, a Northern Illinois-based production company. The acts that will be booked at The House will be up to the audience.

“I want to leave it open for whoever would like to come there and perform,” Martha said. “I’m not ruling out anyone who hasn’t been represented well there. If we start getting calls for different genres, we will expand out.”

The establishment plans on generating its revenue by offering light food, drink and appetizers rather than full-service, dining meals. The House will maintain a liquor license.

Martha, a former pastry chef, would like to have desserts and possibly offer vegan options such as the pastries The House Cafe used to offer.

“Tentatively we will open at 4 p.m. and if there is any interest in lunch we will extend to 11 a.m.,” Robinson said. “We are hoping to have someone affiliated that will be renting out the basement as a full service restaurant.”

Future plans for The House include replacing sound equipment throughout the building, revamping the interior with some cleaning work and possibly starting a mural.

The Robinsons plan to use their business experience from Martha’s Kitchen to keep the establishment up and running efficiently.