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By Connie Sage, Correspondent
EDENTON, N.C.
With a 12 percent jobless rate, this tourism-dependent community of 5,000 has been hit hard by the recession.
But entrepreneurs are hoping that more than a half-dozen new or planned restaurants, inns and a yacht club will lure guests to historic Edenton.
A new bed and breakfast had its coming-out party last week. Another inn is to open by December. Two oyster bars and grills are to be in business by November. Another eatery had its grand opening earlier this month. There's a new bistro at the local country club. And a local chef expects to start serving dinner before Christmas.
Paul Waff has leased space for an oyster bar and grill in a new three-story building at his Wharf Landing condominium community. Wharf Landing overlooks the juncture of the Chowan River and the Albemarle Sound at the Chowan River Bridge.
Two floors are being built out for the Wharf Landing Yacht Club. There will be overnight accommodations for boaters and rooms for parties, weddings and private dinners, he said.
Theron "Mac" McCulley and his wife, Patsy, expect to open Mac's Back Door Oyster Bar and Grill at Wharf Landing by mid-December. McCulley said the 54-seat restaurant, which will offer dinner daily and Sunday brunch, will be "casually elegant."
The public grand opening of the historic Pack House Inn will be from noon to 6 p.m. today.
"It's like stepping back in time to an inn in Edenton 200 years ago," said Giuliano Giannone, who with Michael Scalpi co-own the eight-bedroom inn.
Built in 1915 as a tobacco packing house, it had been part of the Lords Proprietors' Inn, whose six properties were sold at auction in June when owners Arch and Jane Edwards retired.
Scalpi and Giannone, who live in the adjacent 1890s Tillie Bond House, recently completed a quarter-million dollar renovation of the inn.
The Broad Street Manor is being redecorated and is in what had been the main part of the Lords Proprietors' Inn. Its owners are Stephen Gunther of Hertford, and Aaron Giarrana and Scott Jelinek of Virginia Beach.
"It will be elegant but comfortable," said Edenton resident Geordie Robison, who will manage the eight-bedroom bed and breakfast.
Chef Kevin Yokley will be in charge of breakfast at the Broad Street Manor and expects to serve dinner Tuesday through Saturday in an adjacent building that previously had been the Proprietors' Table restaurant.
Paul and Lisa Lane are to open the Edenton Bay Oyster Bar and Seafood Co. and Edenton Bay Catering at the Edenton Marina on Pembroke Creek.
Paul Lane, a third-generation commercial fisherman, plans to serve flounder and other fresh fish he's caught that day, said his wife.
The 90-seat eatery will serve dinner daily and Sunday lunch. The restaurant, which features a nearly 22-foot by 18-foot oyster bar, is "for the average Joe as far as cost goes," said Lisa Lane, a Hertford teacher.
Bayside Marina and Grill, also on Pembroke Creek, launched in April and had its grand opening Oct. 1. It serves breakfast and lunch.
Anthony Grieco is the chef at a bistro that recently began serving dinner Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday brunch at the Chowan Country Club. The restaurant is open to the public.
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Delicious Food
For a Country Club setting, the food is pretty reasonably priced and the food is superb. Don't know where they found this Grieco guy, but he sure is one hellava chef! He's also hot and I hear he is single!
their own money
People have the right to support the businesses they chose to support with their own money. If they chose not to spend money at Walmart because they disagree with their hiring/business practices, it's their right. I'm not sure anyone lives in Edenton because they want "more of the same" that they can get anywhere else. I just suggest that these new business be willing to open during those hours that don't make money. All business lose money at certain hours to be available to make more at other hours. Dependablitiy is a large factor in customer loyalty. It's frustrating to show up only to find they are closed because "we just don't make enough to open those hours" People will go where they know it's going to be open
What Edenton-Chowan County Needs..
...in addition to these upscale, fine and casual eatery's is the "accounting" of how the hospital fund was managed or mis-managed in this case. I'll say it again-that much money dissapeared like smoke in the wind with NO TRACE? No bank records! No withdrawl slips! Large cash withdrawls by the former county manager! Nobody from local, county and state stepping up to see that banking laws and regulations were followed. My personal opinion would not be printed here regarding all persons involved. In the months since this has story has broke, I took it upon myself to go to local banks asking them if I could "move" large amounts of cash without "No" paper trail-It can not be done! Laws and regulations were cited to me. 12% unemployment, higher taxes and no accounting by the state, as well as closed ranks among the high and mighty Edentonians! Disgusted with the obscenity that is Edenton-Chowan County!
agree
Jax, I haven't always agreed with you but you do make some sense here. How this has happened is still beyond this county and why nothing more is being done to investigate and prosecute is beyond me. In addition, I see more of the elite winning here, with the manager getting a huge raise while others got cut. People running for positions that do not support growth.
I am not upset that these businesses are opening. I wish them the best. But honestly, most of us cannot support them. It is fun for the rich elite that live downtown that don't worry about their next pay check cause they have mr. trust fund to fall back to when it's time. This county needs jobs, growth, and opportunity. It is a dying county and people in power are keeping it that way. And all this mismanagement of funds has surely not helped. Who would come here now other than retirees. We need to keep our families, not drive them out.
Disappointed the media hasn't investigated this Manager's raise too. That is wrong
Thank You..
..Rightleftmiddle! My whole point, with my background and knowledge is that no single person can not "move" large amounts of cash from a municipal fund without some form of paper trail. Large cash withdrawls were made, and in other instances, money was drawn off to cover county operating expenses. Why is there no paper trail from the bank? Which bank held the hospital fund? Its great that these people opened new establishments-best of luck to them all-but we need "industry" here in Chowan county. We also need the people involved in this to be held to full accountability. Given the "atmosphere" of certain well-to-do Edentonians, I really feel this money has been buried within the community and no one is talking! Again I state-investigate all persons involved including family members bank accounts and any business deal they may have touched. You will find your Hospital fund money! People of Edenton-Chowan county, your financial future was stolen right from under you!
Lead Us
Jax, lead us to those answers. you have the knowledge and expertise here it appears. i hope you will fight for those answers and many more answers to other questions too.
Why Copeland has not been put under some oath and been forced to testify what he did, how, and why, is beyond me.
And now chowan county government is going down a slippery slope with illegitimate raises to one person, no job growth, a shady EDC, and leaders who you really wonder what is going on with them, on both town and county. How does Edenton justify EDC yet certain members work to keep out Lowe's. How does the commissioners justify constant punishment of employees while doing nothing to grow the county. What have we become
How Can I Lead..
..the county to what is right for the people? The people who can do what is right under law are in power! "Oh, your trying to see if the county's municipal fund was stolen aren't you?" was one reply to my "depositing/withdrawing large amounts of cash" question to a local bank. Another bank emphatically stated "Look, county, state and federal officials must be working on this supposed theft-why don't you let the officials do thier job". I wish I could lead you to the answer RightLeftMiddle, for all of the county! Any time you walk into a bank and conduct a transaction-by federal and state laws, it is recorded. Period. End of story! It does not matter if you are the county manager, the mayor, the commisioner or a simple hard working citizen. Each transaction is recorded. So? How does one move 20 odd million dollars for "county operating expenses" into the general operating budget from a municipal fund and withdraws "large cash amounts" (per Pilot stories) with NO bank records? Where are state and federal officials on this? Very disappointed with the way it was swept under the rug!
who do we contact
Does anyone know the proper authorities to contact? This has been swept under the rug by all in Edenton, and evidently in the SBI and Raleigh also. The paper recently reported that an investigation cleared anyone in Eden.ton of any wrong doing. IMPOSSIBLE. There must be sonme higher branch on government or something. Can the citizens of Chowan County call for an investigation. We just need the next step pointed out to us so that we know where to go now that the authorities have let us down once again. Still bothered to see Richard Bunch salary himself!
don't know
I don't see anyone stepping up from a legal standpoint. I guess it would fall to our district attorney so don't expect much there! He is friends with Copeland, Charlie Franklin, and all the government officials who have done wrong, so not expecting anything from him. I guess the county is just considered screwed sadly. The press is the only hope, but they don't seem to be pushing much.
I don't think Mr. Bunch salaries himself. Remember as Chamber, he is paid for by Chamber dues, not by taxes. Only tax dollars was the EDC and I did verify he has taken deep cuts in salary, so I think not fair to make that claim. It becomes about performance now and what his bosses assess as performance.
nobody
nobody can afford to go out to eat though! 12% unemployment, you don't go out and dine. County employees, except for one, took pay cuts, they can't afford. Town employees can't afford it. Only ones who can afford it are the rich in-towners living off trust funds. If you can support those restaurants, support a walmart or a lowe's then, something that brings some jobs......... or hire more servants and maids. Getting real tired of this place and what it has become!