Jones Grill opened June 26 on U.S. 70 East next to Don’s Barber Shop.
Kinston natives Donald “Peanut” and Audrey Jones and their daughter Erin, 16, have been running their country restaurant since refurbishing the building that once housed a consignment shop, a Farm Bureau office and, many years back, Louise’s Diner.
“We both always thought of opening up a grill,” Audrey Jones said about herself and her husband.
Driving by the old building a number of times, they decided to stop to find out about opening a grill there. The couple redid the plumbing, bought kitchen equipment and made over the place.
They serve up homemade country cooking and breakfast all day.
“We both just love cooking,” Jones said, “and my husband, he just loves to cook breakfast.”
His specialty is omelets, which customers can order with meats, vegetables and cheese to their liking. They also serve French toast and pancakes.
They plan to offer certain dinner specials each day. The specials will run from lunch to closing.
“We’re testing them out to see what makes good sellers,” Jones said.
The club sandwich with turkey, ham, bacon, lettuce and tomato has been a best seller, she said.
The grill sells hamburgers, including the Little E, named after Erin. It includes bacon in the hamburger and on top.
“That seems to be a big hit,” Jones said.
They have traditional hot dogs, cheese dogs and bacon-wrapped dogs. Their home fries are made fresh every day. The bacon hot tot is a hash brown tot wrapped in bacon with a jalapeno pepper and melted cheese on top.
“Everybody really loves them,” Jones said.
This week, they’ve started serving hamburger steak and gravy with french fries and cole slaw.
The restaurant has a down-home atmosphere.
“It’s pretty laid back,” Erin said. “Everybody knows everybody. There’s never a stranger.”
Jones Grill, 211 E. New Bern Road, is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For information, call 252-208-7180.
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To enjoy Kinston’s nightlife in a controlled environment, visit J’s Private Nightclub & Lounge. The private adult club and lounge was opened in 2002 by James L. and Lindel Jones, who owned The Spectrum on North Queen Street from 1988-2001.
It was a thriving spot in the city.
“There was no other club in downtown Kinston at that time,” James Jones said.
In 2009, he sub-leased the building out and it continued to be a nightclub. Jones said he bought the tenants out in 2011 and when he went inside the building, everything was gone except the tables and chairs.
With support from Kinston Community Council for the Arts, Pride of Kinston and others, the Joneses were able to re-open the club and bring in live entertainment, he said.
“They knew the type of place I had run in the past,” he added.
Jones opened the downstairs for business July 2012, while he continued working on the upstairs — a total of 20,000 square feet. The upstairs is planned to be opened Aug. 1.
“It took almost all of our life savings to bring our club back,” he said.
Once inside, patrons are greeted by mirrored walls and numerous mirrors artistically-carved by artist Jarvis Nobles of Kinston in shapes such as elephants, jazz musicians and a cowboy riding a horse.
Wooden décor features painted designs by Carlton Croom of Kinston. The restaurant also has all the jerseys worn and signed by pro basketball player Jerry Stackhouse of Kinston. Along the stairwell wall is a memorial to club members who have passed away.
There is always something more to see inside J’s Nightclub, and plenty to do.
There is a dance floor with a DJ, seven 51-inch televisions, two bars downstairs and one upstairs and all the tables are actually built-in bar tops. There is a special seating area for parties celebrating a birthday, and a private party room for rent to members and non-members.
“We play oldies, some jazz and just music people can party to,” Jones said.
The age limit is 30 and older. Pizza is served at no charge on Thursdays and every night there is free chicken. Membership is $50 for the first year and $25 for each year after. Members can bring a guest for no charge before 1 a.m. Non-members pay $5 on Fridays and Saturdays.
J’s Private Nightclub & Lounge, 110 W. Blount St., is open from 3 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and 3 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday. For information, call 252-268-0646.
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.