“The original owners and builders, Harold and Terry Link, were both born in Heidelberg, Germany, and had moved to the United States in the West Palm Beach, Florida area. They were married in 1976 and selected North Georgia, including Atlanta and Helen, as their honeymoon destination. During the visit to Helen, Terry decided the town was lacking a satisfactory German Restaurant. To fulfill that need, the couple relocated to the area and purchased the property on which The Heidelberg building currently sits. They were instrumental in designing the original building and restaurant, which initially opened as The Forge on July 4, 1977. After several ownership changes through the years, the current owners purchased the restaurant in 2013. They are dedicated to preserving one of Helen’s most famous buildings and businesses. In 2018, the name was changed to “The Heidelberg.” The owners and management wanted to make the business their own, but at the same time honor the Link family and their heritage, as well as their friends and employees that made building and restaurant a place treasured by many.”