Montgomery Grill, Faveur on ever-evolving High Street

PORTSMOUTH

In downtown Portsmouth, High Street is like the weather: Give it time, and it’ll change.

The latest turnover brings a replacement restaurant, a new home-decor consignment shop and the return of a former bath-and-beauty retailer. A few stores have closed; another changed hands.

The former Comfort restaurant space will soon house Montgomery Grill, named for the historic designation of Montgomery Square between Green and Effingham streets. Building owners William Roach, Andy McCullough and Glenn Miller brought in Trifecta Management Group, a California company, to operate the eatery.

The managers painted the walls a terra cotta color and planned to remodel the bar and add booths in front, said Michael Long, Trifecta’s senior vice president. The menu is comfort food with Southern flair, much like its predecessor. With most prices between $10 and $16, entree choices include fried chicken, meatloaf, grilled trout, pasta and burgers, plus side dishes such as corn bread, cheese grits and fried okra.

“There are so many great eating options throughout the Portsmouth marketplace,” Roach said. “We wanted to give people what they deserved.”

Montgomery Grill is to open Tuesday and gear up for Portsmouth Restaurant Week, starting April 13.

A new consignment shop called Next (newish, exciting things) has taken the place of Vincent Hester Gallery, which closed at 607 High St. Gallery owner Barbara Hester joined with Jewish Mother restaurant founder Ted Bonk and former Olde Towne Flower Market proprietor Sis Walden to make the most of tough economic times by letting consumers sell the silverware, china, vases and rugs that they no longer want to others who might like them.

“There’s a need for an upscale place to take your good things when you don’t want to just donate them, throw them out or trash them,” Hester said, distinguishing the concept from neighboring antique stores. “ We’re taking contemporary things.”

Bebe Boyd has brought her store, Faveur, back to the same block of High Street, across from Next. Boyd sells her own brand of soaps and scrubs, body lotions and bath salts and has added women’s clothing and accessories such as handbags, jewelry and scarves.

Along with the comings on High Street are some goings. Organic Food Depot, the health food and wine shop that was to reopen , will remain closed. Owner Jon Berry cited a “lack of resources” and the “poor outlook on the economy.”

Kulture, the streetwear clothing shop at 325 High St., shut down recently, as did its next door neighbor, Fran’s Fashions & Novelties.

Another retailer has changed hands. The former Daily Grind cafe has turned into The Coffee Shoppe at High and Middle streets. New owner Angela Clark, who bought the place from her sister March 1, dropped the Daily Grind franchise arrangement and returned the cafe to its independent roots.

The decor is the same, as is the steady stream of patrons working on laptops as they sip brew. The coffee still comes from Williamsburg Coffee & Tea, which will work with the shop to create a special roast every season, Clark said.

Carolyn Shapiro, 446-2270, carolyn.shapiro@pilotonline.com