Smith’s Café started as a country general store — GJ Smith Store — in 1936 by George James Smith Sr. long before U.S. 258 was widened.
The neighborhood store carried groceries and other necessities. At some point, a small grill was added.
Smith’s son, George James Smith Jr., and Dee Barrow took over the store in 1969 and called it Smith and Barrow Grocery.
In 1978, they added a restaurant. The grocery portion was closed in 1992 when the chain stores came into Kinston. Smith Jr. became sole owner in 2004 after Barrow passed away, third generation owner George Smith III said.
“We have stayed true to our menu,” he said, “and the way we prepare food, the whole time.”
Smith and his siblings have worked in the store — pumping gas, stocking shelves and selling groceries — since they were young.
The café is on what was the Smith family farm. The family donated a portion of the property across the road for the North Lenoir Fire Department, which opened in 1965.
Smith recalled pushing his grandfather in a buggy wagon across the road every day from the family home to the restaurant so he could chat with friends just before lunchtime, and then he would take him back home.
The restaurant serves breakfast and lunch Monday through Friday, dinner on Thursdays, breakfast on Saturdays and lunch on Sundays.
“We’re one of the few (country) restaurants that still do fresh vegetables,” Smith said. “… It’s home cooking, homemade cornbread and we’ve always been known for our collards.”
In fact, the restaurant ships cooked collard greens to its faithful customers who have moved as far away as Florida and Texas, he said.
Daily specials include:
Sunday – variety
Monday – barbecued beef
Tuesday – country-style steak
Wednesday – chicken pastry
Thursday – spare ribs
Friday – fried fish, fish stew
The JC Biscuit — which has bacon, sausages, cheese and egg on a homemade biscuit — has been around since the restaurant opened, Smith said. The tenderloin and gravy biscuit is also popular, he added.
“We have what we call hubcaps,” he said about the extra-large pancakes.
Several of the dishes are named after longtime customers.
The Leon Special, named after Leon Whaley, is scrambled eggs with patty sausage, rice and homemade gravy on a toasted biscuit. The Charlie Hester is a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich.
In addition to country fare, the café also serves heart-friendly fare such as whole grain cereals, oatmeal, egg white omelets, boiled eggs, sugar-free items, whole wheat toast, fruit and vegetables.
Smith’s Café, 2424 U.S. 258 N., is open 4 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday, 5-8 p.m. Thursdays, 4-10:30 a.m. Saturdays and 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays. For information, call 522-4040.
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With Second Chances, the SPCA thrift store, abandoned dogs and cats may get a chance for a new home.
The West Vernon Avenue building at the former Massey Motor Company site was donated to the SPCA in July 2010 by Randy and Molly Kelley.
The thrift store’s proceeds help support the Lenoir County animal shelter.
On Saturday, the store will be celebrating its third anniversary by holding a sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Workers will be handing out 13-gallon plastic bags under the shelter in the donation area, said Tammy Everett, vice president of the Lenoir County SPCA board and volunteer at the store.
“Whatever clothes you can put in a bag is $5,” she said.
Inside the store, everything will be half price, Everett said. Items include clothes, shoes, pocketbooks, household items, books, movies, music, electronics and furniture.
There will also be a few dogs and cats there available for adoption, she said.
“I’ve got some very nice door prizes that have been donated,” Everett said. Light refreshments will be served.
Anyone can donate items that are clean and in working order to the SPCA thrift store. There is an after-hours box in the donation area.
Second Chances thrift store, 2900 Vernon Ave., is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. This Saturday’s sale starts at 9 a.m. For information, call 252-522-0787.
Margaret Fisher can be reached at 252-559-1082 or Margaret.Fisher@Kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @MargaretFishr.
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Do you have a new retail business or one that’s undergone a significant change? The Free Press would like to hear about it. Contact Margaret Fisher at 252-559-1082 or Margaret.Fisher@Kinston.com.