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JACKSONVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) — A popular small business in downtown Jacksonville has closed its doors due to confusion with North Carolina liquor laws, operating two separate businesses in one building.
720 Court Street is home to both The Grazing Tray by day and Dewey’s by night, with Samantha Prevatte operating The Grazing Tray alone and partnering with Jennifer Morton on Dewey’s.
“During the day, it’s very much a cafe. So you can have breakfast, you can have lunch, and in the evening it transitions into more of a sit-down dinner, and then the bar opens and you can have craft cocktails and craft food.” ,” Prevatte said.
Although both locations operate in the same space, alcohol will only be served at Dewey’s.
“We have obtained all interim permits for local and state-level liquor licenses,” Prevatte said. “We ran it for six months, with The Grazing Tray working during the day and Dewey’s Bar and Bistro working at night.”
That was until the ABC committee visited in mid-December.
“We got the news that the two organizations are separate and cannot exist under the same roof,” Prevatte said.
The city helped split the space in half, but it created the complication of having to add another kitchen and restroom, which the ABC committee requested. The committee also offered other suggestions.
“Put the two together and make one,” she said. “The problem is that the ownership structure and the way we operate the business is completely different. So if we were to go back and complete the entire restructuring, it just wouldn’t make sense for us.”
Unfortunately, the only other option is to close the grazing tray. Prevatte now wants to warn other restaurateurs.
“If someone at North Carolina is going to do something like the two concepts, be sure to ask, because for me and Jennifer, we were looking to the institutions there to guide the instruction. “They directed us and had it prepared for us,” Prevatte said. “If it had been stated that way at any point in that application, we never would have done this.”
“If you’re applying for that liquor license, that six-month period is an audit period. We didn’t even know that. So anything can change,” she added.
The last working day for grazing trays will be February 3rd. Dewey’s Bar and Bistro will remain open, but changes may occur as a result of the closure.
Michaela Guidry, front desk and operations manager at The Glazing Tray, added that she was shocked to hear of the closure. She knows that the staff at The Glazing Tray will be transitioning to working from Dewey’s home and that there is no reason to stress to them about job security because Prevatte is the best boss Guidry has ever had. she said.
Both Prevatte and Guidry said the support and love from the community has been overwhelming and they are grateful for it all. A petition has been created to support his two businesses co-existing in the same space.
Click here to find the petition.
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