A surge of start-ups is expected to bring six new businesses into downtown Commerce in the next couple of months. They include two restaurants, a catering business, two retail stores and a service-related business, according to the Downtown Development Authority.
Executive director Denise McKay reported to her board Oct. 27 that Robert House, owner of The Opera House, has signed a lease with a tenant planning to open a restaurant at the location that formerly housed the Harmony Grove Bar and Grill on South Broad Street.
“I understand one of the owners was a head chef at a Ruth Chris steakhouse,” McCoy said. “The other owner is associated with Macaroni Grill.”
The restaurant, KC’s Family Grille, is shooting for a Dec. 1 opening, McKay said.
Meanwhile, the opening of Dogwood Bakery & Bread Company on South Broad Street has been pushed back from Nov. 1 to Dec. 1.
McKay said the owner, who does not want her name made public just yet, finally got the final approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to prepare food on site and is on the verge of closing on the start-up loan.
Meanwhile, A Different Flavor, the meat-and-three restaurant located in Commerce Plaza Shopping Center, Maysville Road, has signed a six-month lease for the former Common Road Bakery location on Central Avenue.
According to McKay, A Different Flavor has had a number of requests to cater functions and will use the Central Avenue location to cater special events. It will not serve food at that location, she added.
Meanwhile, HR Magoo, a boutique specializing in all-organic cotton T-shirts, soaps, lotions, beauty products and art, opened this week at 1704 South Broad Street (next to Jay’s). The building is owned by DDA member Chris Bray, who recently renovated the property.
The business owner is Mary Moses.
“It’s whimsical and artsy,” McKay said. “It’s a good fit for the downtown.”
Coming soon — by Christmas — to the former location of J&B Locksmith, situated in the point of the triangle between Central Avenue and State Street, is an embroidery and T-shirt shop also featuring arts and crafts. The owner is Kathy Evans, who plans to have the business open before Christmas.
In addition, a prospective tenant, with financing already in place, is finalizing plans to locate a service-related business in the former pawnshop location on South Broad Street at Sycamore. According to McKay, that business should open up “around the first of the year.”
