MOULTRIE – “Closing time, every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end. …”
After ten years of being a part of the downtown Moultrie vibe, The Square Restaurant will close in January. However, a new restaurant is transitioning into its place with the blessing of The Square’s owners, Phillip and Carrie Viohl.
“We spent the past 10 years just trying to add something special and unique in downtown Moultrie. That’s what we really want is for them to continue that and I think you guys will continue that,” Carrie told the couple during an interview with both couples.
Jason and Rebecca Attebury, the owners of Dough Boys Pizza in Moultrie, plan to launch Dough Boys Downtown in The Square Restaurant’s location — tentatively in mid-February.
The Square Restaurant, which is in a late-1800s building at 25 First Ave. S.E., across from the Colquitt County Courthouse, was bought by the Viohls in 2012 and after a substantial renovation process, they opened the restaurant in 2013.
Carrie said that Phillip had supported her in her photography studio and, as she felt like her small business was coming to an end, it dovetailed nicely with Phillip feeling he was ready to start his own business that would be his legacy and special to him like hers had been to her.
“He’s always loved the restaurant business,” she added.
The Viohls worked to build their restaurant and, especially the bar, to be a place where people could come and enjoy a good crafter, a craft cocktail or a nice glass of wine in an intimate and comfortable atmosphere, said Carrie.
“And we worked on it for a long time. We built it over a decade … but we always knew that ten years was kind of the turning point for us,” she said.
She went on to say that their kids were young when they first opened the restaurant, and she and Phillip knew that at the ten-year mark they would be grown-up and might want to take over the business. When they were asked, last year, she said, they both declined as they had their own plans.
“It was valuable for us to raise our kids in the space and really instill in them work ethic, customer service and all the things that happen when you work in retail and hospitality. But when the children said that they were not interested in owning the business, we knew it was time,” Carrie said.
She said Phillip felt like he had accomplished what he wanted to accomplish at the Square just like she had with her photography studio.
“So, we didn’t just want to close it up and leave, though. We really wanted to find an investor and proprietor who would take what we did and build from that,” she said.
She said that they really feel that with Jason and Rebecca, and the support of their investors, Frankie and Anna Davis, they will be able to take it to the next level.
“And we’re so excited. We can’t wait to be on the other side of the bar and just enjoy coming in and cheering them on and supporting them,” she said.
The Atteburys have owned Dough Boys for just over four years and both of them started in the restaurant business when they were teenagers. They actually met each other while working at the Dairy Queen.
“Growing the business was always something that we wanted to do but I wasn’t actively looking for a new spot. But when a good opportunity came around, I jumped on it,” said Jason.
Frankie and Anna Davis bought the building from the Viohls and then, Jason said, they called him to give him first pick as they knew that he owned a pizza restaurant already.
Rebecca said that, right now, they were working with contractors and Anna was very instrumental in helping them with the new renovation to transition The Square Restaurant into Dough Boys Downtown. She also said that mid-February would be a soft opening.
The couple said that they will bring the menu from the original Dough Boys location like their popular “two slices and a drink” lunch special and then add items to it. The first thing they would add would be fried dishes like French fries.
The operations at the original restaurant will stay the same and will continue its delivery service, but delivery won’t be offered at the new location.
“We will be open for lunch and dinner,” Rebecca said of the new location’s hours and added that they would be closed on Mondays.
One of the things that the couple are really excited about, they said, was having a larger dining room. Rebecca said that she’s looking forward to having her customers be able to have birthday parties or after-game dinners for youth baseball teams at the restaurant.
“For us, it’s the dine-in experience. Just a place for people to enjoy coming, sitting down and having something good to eat or have a drink,” Jason said.
Rebecca said that she enjoys talking to her customers that come in to their location now, and this will give them the opportunity to sit down and eat instead of taking their food to-go.
Rebecca said that she had lots of ideas for events for both kids and adults. Monday nights would be reserved for private parties.
“I just hope that we can keep on doing what they’ve been doing here,” Jason said.
Carrie reiterated that she felt confident that they would, especially with the support of their investors and Jason added about the Davises, “They just really want us to succeed.”
Carrie told the couple that she and Phillip actually had more than one interested investor for the building.
“But Frankie’s the one who talked to us about his vision for Downtown Moultrie and it just really felt like his vision for Downtown Moultrie matched what we’ve been trying to build all these years,” she said.
She said that the reason they bought the building, in the first place, was because they wanted to continue to add to the character and culture of Downtown Moultrie like they had when they owned their photography studio downtown.
“We’re excited for what Downtown Moultrie is going to become over the next ten years,” said Jason.
As far as advice that Carrie and Phillip can give to Jason and Rebecca, they both agreed that developing relationships with their customers was crucial.
“Hold on,” Phillip said and clarified that there will always be people that can’t be pleased but just “hold on.”
He said that there will be customers that come along that become loyal patrons and the relationships that he and Carrie have built with their patrons are invaluable.
“Develop those relationships. Just build those relationships,” he told them.
“Our regulars have become our friends and our family and we can’t wait to be that for other restaurants, now,” Carrie said.
Saturday, Jan. 27, will be The Square Restaurant’s last day of service and, on that day, there will be a variety of activities at the restaurant, giving a party-like atmosphere to mark its closing. More information can be found on the restaurant’s Facebook page.
“… So, gather up your jackets, move it to the exits. I hope you have found a friend.” And it seems like the Viohl’s, over their ten years of owning the Square Restaurant, have certainly found many.