by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
People who work Downtown fall into two categories when it comes to eating lunch: those who bring it from home and those who go forth from their workspace to patronize a restaurant, sandwich shop or even a hot dog cart.
Eateries come and go and when Firehouse Subs closed its Downtown location last September it left a lunch-time void. That void was filled this week when Sean Farah opened his Sideline Deli at 1 W. Adams St. in the Police & Fire Pension Fund Building.
Farah said he has been in the business all his life. Farah’s father opened a similar shop across the street from Paxon High 32 years ago when Downtown’s newest restaurant owner was three months old.
Farah discovered the location by accident one afternoon when he and his wife were exploring Downtown.
“We were just driving around and we noticed Firehouse had closed. We looked at each other and said ‘What a great location.’ So I researched the landlord and here we are,” said Farah.
Sideline’s breakfast and lunch menu includes everything you’d expect – bacon and eggs and grits from 7-10:30 a.m. and then burgers, sandwiches and salads until 3 p.m.
“I realize my customers have jobs. They don’t have a lot of time for lunch, so we keep it simple so we can give you fast service,” said Farah.
A few blocks east of Sideline Deli, another new eatery has opened at 116 E. Adams St. in the former Caribbean Sunsplash location.
Mac and Vernicia Cox opened The News Cafe about a month ago. They also offer traditional breakfast fare beginning at 9 a.m. with sandwiches, wraps, salads and homemade soups.
Mac Cox brought his restaurant experience from management positions with the Cheesecake Factory and Hard Rock Cafe. Vernicia decided she didn’t want to go back to work at Bank of America after her maternity leave, so the couple, who also own Abe’s Pizza on Southside Boulevard, decided to open an eatery Downtown.
“We see Downtown as an opportunity,” said Mac Cox. “We’re in on the ground floor and we plan to grow with Downtown.”
He also said The News Cafe is different because it offers something you won’t find anywhere else Downtown.
“We serve breakfast all day. If you feel like an omelet or a plate of grits or hash browns and eggs at 4 o’clock in the afternoon, we’ve got that.”
Another Downtown newcomer has set up shop inside Gold’s Gym on Forsyth Street. The first Healthy Way Cafe opened in November 2006 at St. Johns Town Center and when the owners of Gold’s Gym wanted to offer something that was different and healthy to their members Downtown, they called Healthy Way.
Service begins at 11 a.m. and the menu includes organic wraps, salads, smoothies and desserts
“We’re all about people being healthy. Combining a great workout with healthy food gives you the best of both worlds,” said David Rios, vice president of operations for the company that also sells its own line of nutritional supplements. Healthy Way is also franchising and Rios said three such units are scheduled to open by the end of next month.
In the concourse at the BB&T Building, the space that was home to Wade’s Place for years has now been transformed into Danny’s Place by Danny and Wendy Henry, formerly of Danny’s at the Beach and the Tower Cafe at the Bank of America Tower.
They’re open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and there is “Sunday Breakfast” (scrambled eggs, grits, toast and choice of meat) on the menu five days a week. They brought some of their favorite items from the Tower Cafe to the new shop plus 14 fresh vegetables every day and homemade soup.
The lunch special changes every day, so the Henrys said to e-mail [email protected] and request to be added to the daily special e-mail list.
A block west of Danny’s on the second floor of the AT&T Building, things have also changed.
Adora Gregorio owns and operates Cafe Adora and oversees one of the most eclectic menus Downtown. Adjacent to the complete traditional breakfast line (even biscuits and gravy) is a well-stocked salad bar. Lunch specials change every day and include Asian and American selections like meat loaf and fried chicken.
“But no matter what the specials of the day are, I always have fried rice, lo mein and egg rolls,” said Gregorio.
Al and Ruth Flournoy (he’s from Los Angeles, she’s from Holland) have opened Flournoy’s Grill. From 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., it’s a traditional Downtown breakfast spot and lunch stop with a unique addition for the midday meal.
A three-hour celebration of soul food begins each day at 11 a.m. It changes every day and is created by Curtis Russ, who began his career in the kitchen more than 30 years ago at Morrison’s Cafeteria when it was at 140 W. Monroe St. near May Cohens.
“I’m a one-man operation in the kitchen,” said Russ, as he rattled off a list of possibilities: Pork chops. smothered ribs, fried fish, macaroni and cheese, corn bread, collard greens, okra and tomatoes, potato salad and sweet potato pie.
“I get here at seven every morning and start cooking,” said Russ. “Then at 11 a.m. it’s showtime.”
Getting hungry?