Changes Afoot for Southern Pines, Pinehurst Restaurants
Cetera Martin is general manager of Too Blonde Tavern, which opened recently in the Theatre Building in downtown Pinehurst. The walls are adorned with pictures of some famous blondes. TED M. NATT JR.
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The restaurant carousel in Moore County continues to spin, with The Red Door Cafe in Pinehurst closing, nearby Too Blonde Tavern opening, and Rue 32 in Southern Pines about to change ownership.
Local restaurateur Mark Elliott is selling Rue 32, which specializes in serving small-plate meals paired with selections of wines, to Timothy and Shannon Smith in a deal expected to close Feb. 1.
"Shannon is my controller and has been with me for three years, so she knows the business," Elliott said. "I'm going to consult with them during the transition, but they're going to make the restaurant their own."
Timothy Smith said Monday that Elliott presented the husband-and-wife team with the "opportunity of a lifetime."
"It would have been silly for us not to take chef Elliott up on the offer," Smith said. "He's an incredibly generous person and has a real knack for grooming people to move up. We're flattered, honored and excited."
The Smiths plan to add some entree-size choices to the menu and eliminate foie gras, which is made from the liver of a duck or goose that has been specially fattened.
Animal rights and welfare groups contend that foie gras production methods, especially force feeding, constitute cruel and inhumane treatment of animals.
"We were passing out menus at the Southern Pines Police Department and someone told us about it, so Shannon and I watched some YouTube videos," Smith said. "We were shocked. Taking foie gras off the menu is the responsible thing to do."
The Smiths are retaining chef Caine Lambert and are also sticking with the menu's international theme.
"There's nothing pretentious about my wife and me," Smith said. "We're just a husband-and-wife team that will hopefully have a business to pass on to their kids or grandkids."
Smith said they were "up to our armpits in work" as the Feb. 1 transition approaches.
"This is a full-time commitment for us," he said. "We want people to come back and try us if they've had a bad experience in the past. We'll do right by them this time."
Elliott, who also owns Elliott's on Linden in Pinehurst and The Sly Fox in Southern Pines, said selling Rue 32 will give him more time to focus on Elliott's Catering Co., which was selected last fall as a preferred caterer for the Cape Fear Botanical Garden in Fayetteville.
The facility hosts more than 100 events annually, including weddings, receptions, corporate meetings and other special events.
"My business is growing exponentially," he said. "We're doing well, so I'm pretty happy."
Over at Too Blonde Tavern in Pinehurst, the atmosphere in the Theatre Building is cozy; there are only eight tables in the dining room and four tables in the bar area.
Pictures of famous blondes - from Jean Harlow to Marilyn Monroe to Christie Brinkley - adorn the walls. There are also posters for movies such as "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes," "My Favorite Blonde" and "Blonde Bombshell."
"Our decor plays on the whole blonde thing," General Manager Cetera Martin said. "We wanted to do something different, something fun. 'We have more fun' is our slogan."
Martin and owner Tammy Leach - both blondes - have known each other for several years and worked in the restaurant industry in the past.
"When this space became available, we just decided to go for it," Martin said. "We're excited to be here."
Too Blonde Tavern had a quiet opening Dec. 21 and will celebrate its grand opening tonight from 5-9 p.m. as part of a Pinehurst Business Guild after-hours.
"Business has been great so far," Martin said. "Lunch has been awesome, but we're still trying to draw the night crowd."
She expects things to pick up once the outdoor furniture arrives.
"Then we'll be rockin' and rollin'," Martin said. "We have a great patio area, so once it warms up we'll have live music on the weekends."
The Red Door Cafe, around the corner from Too Blonde and next to The Villager Deli in downtown Pinehurst, closed earlier this month. Before it closed, the cafe served a mix of coffee, breakfast items and light lunch.
Owner Betsy Hamilton could not be reached Monday for comment.
Contact Ted M. Natt Jr. at (910) 693-2474 or tnatt@thepilot.com.
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Comments
Toda 3 months, 3 weeks ago
The Villager Deli
RKatrin 3 months, 3 weeks ago
This is just another one of the interminable, hardly "newsworthy" articles that the Pilot shills for the over abundant restaurant business industry in this area. Do we have to hear about it? Don't we have enough redundant restaurants already? Basically, who cares, and I, as a citizen resent all the free advertising that business of every stripe gets in the newspapers pages. Aren't there things more interesting and more needed to use newsprint on? Steve Bouser wanted to know in today's issue why people weren't sending in the usual amount of letters. Part of the reason is that letters that are critical of local business and industry probably won't get published, it would upset the business community. At least here, on line, the comments won't be as censored.
TooHot 3 months, 3 weeks ago
I'm surprised Elliott could find somebody to even take Rue 32 off his hands. They'll need to make some real big changes for me to take my group(s) there again.
Courseaire 3 months, 3 weeks ago
I may be nuts, but when I think of "Too Blonde Tavern", I'm thinking if I ordered a grilledl cheese sandwich, I'm going to get it with the butter in the inside and the cheese grilled on the outside of the bread.
emb6683 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Marilyn Monroe at least was not a natural blonde, so maybe it should be called the "Bleached Blonde Tavern."
golflady 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Well stated. The Pilot hopes that the "free" press will pay off in "paid" advertising hence the never-ending litany of non-stories.
CSmithson 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Bob,
The Pilot knows what sells papers and drives traffic. Check any online story about (x) Restaurant chain coming to the area. Any of them will have ten times the comments of the average "real" news story. The Facebook page "Moore County Needs a Target" has 3,742 "likes" while the Moore Coalition for Human Care page has 481. It would seem that, for better or worse, the Pilot is giving most people what they want.
(For the record, I "like" both pages.)
ImaginaryManInTheSky 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Why do the same people complain each day? If you don't like articles about a certain topic, dont read them. I like having as many selections for food as possible. Hopefully the Too Blonde Tavern will take off and give out of towners another choice in the village. For such a small area we have an overabundance of negative people. All you negative nellies, take a knee
Courseaire 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Two blondes walk into a bar "Ouch!", neither one saw it.
Pinehurst_Nurse 3 months, 3 weeks ago
I concur with ImaginaryManInTheSky!
Toda 3 months, 3 weeks ago
News Flash ~ Two Southern Pines restaurants are reportedly closing. Get on the stick Pilot: Lob Steer and Raffaele's
teufelhunden 3 months, 3 weeks ago
I really want an Indian restaurant to come to town. I think we have enough pizza and burgers.
Courseaire 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Two blondes came into a bar, sat down, and ordered drinks. They were making merry in a serious way and it was obvious to the bartender that they were celebrating something big. His curiosity finally got the better of him and he says " I hate to be nosy, but it's obvious that you two are celebrating something big. What's the occasion" One blonde replies "Well, we are just sooo proud of ourselves, because we just finished - just the two of us alone - a 50 piece jigsaw puzzle in only 3 days." Confused, the bartender says "So?", to which the other blonde says "Well, on the box it says 3 - 5 years"
njc17 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Well. I'll horn in here, restaurants come and they go. The Sandhills is not known for culinary excellance, but there are fine dining places. Sly Fox is a good one. I was not impressed with Rue 32, too much show and not enough substance. Lobsteer has been on the verge of closing for a couple of years now. The building is in horrible shape and the ambience needs a complate makeover same for Raffaeles. Food is fine but not something Guy Fierre would rave over.If one wants pretentious, there are some to choose from, but basic dining needs are nicely filled. As for the Too Blonde Tavern, too gimmicky, . Here as in any place around the United States, the restaurant business is a risky venture, not enough real cooks , even fewer chefs and qualified staff is sparse.
Two blondes walk into a bar--------------------------------not a clue.
blessherheart 3 months, 3 weeks ago
I have eaten at Too Blonde four times since they opened in December. Good food and the ladies are terrific. Good luck Too Blonde...keep up the good work!
Nezumi 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Teufelhunden - I agree. For the time being, the few Indian dishes at 195 are quite good - but you have to request them to be spicy for more authenticity.