MARSHALL - After news broke that The Burger Parlor, one of Madison County's longest-running and most popular restaurants would close, residents shared memories and expressed sadness about losing the "Marshall staple."
But now, more than two months after the announcement, the new owners, Johnathan Moore and Nathan Harding, plan to bring back the restaurant, and keep the same name.
Harding and Moore told The News-Record on Sept. 1 they are paying rent to former owner Michelle Thomas through Nov. 1, at which point they will take over the lease from the Thomas family. The county owns the property, as it operates its administrative offices in the same plaza at 5707 U.S. 25 — the roadway colloquially known as "the bypass" in Marshall.
Moore said he and
Harding plan to sign a five-year lease on the building. They hope to be open before Jan. 1, 2027.
"We're sentimental to it," Harding said. "It's been here forever."
Thomas said the restaurant was started by former Marshall Mayor Lawrence Ponder and his wife Mary Ponder in 1973 and purchased by the Thomas family in 1978. There were three generations of Thomases working there before its closing.
Thomas announced the restaurant's closing in a June 18 Facebook post. Some residents expressed sadness, while others shared their memories of the restaurant or offered what they'd like to see at the next business there.
Dahn Stucker, 54, remembers when the restaurant was on the other end of the plaza in the building now occupied by the county offices, back when Ingles was there before it moved across the street. Stucker, who graduated from Madison High School in 1989, reflected fondly on memories of walking across the street after class to eat at what was then nicknamed "Burger Doodle" by locals.
New atmosphere
Harding and Moore, who are cousins, said they also grew up visiting the restaurant and want to maintain its vibe as a community hub.
Though the men have never owned a restaurant, they said they plan to hire a manager with more than 30 years of experience in the industry. They dispelled the rumor that a Mexican restaurant would be coming to the space. Instead, they plan to offer American fare, with an emphasis on burgers.
But breakfast will still be a main feature.
"We're going to have all the old-fashioned breakfast stuff: biscuits, gravy, eggs, ham, bacon, sausage, tenderloin — an old-school breakfast," Harding said.
The new owners want to cater to the youth as well, particularly with Madison High and Madison Early College High School being right across the street.
"That's why we want to stay open in the evening time, too," Moore said. "We're going to have foosball tables, a pool table and some dartboards."
Harding and Moore said they plan to put up six to eight big-screen TVs across both walls, as well as two TVs spotlighting their menu.
"We're trying to bring it alive a little bit. We're not going too crazy, because the old-timers here like to come hang out in the mornings. So, we're trying to do a rustic theme — the floors are going to be black with a copper center."
The restaurant will not offer alcohol.
"It's just going to bring drama," Moore said. "If we start having fights break out or whatever, it gives us a bad reputation. We want to do everything the right way."
Harding and Moore, who work in construction, redid the kitchen, including two new grills and hot dog cookers.
They plan to open six days a week, closed on Sundays, and will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner from 6 a.m. to 8 or 9 p.m., possibly extending hours based on demand. They also plan to keep the counter-style service used in the previous iteration.
In the coming weeks, the county will perform its inspection and change out the light fixtures and kitchen wall tiles, according to Harding and Moore.
In the end, they want to focus on continuing to offer a family-friendly environment at the Madison County fixture.
"We decided to keep the name, and we'll give the place a facelift," Moore said.
Johnny Casey is the Madison County communities reporter for The Citizen Times and The News-Record & Sentinel. He can be reached at 828-210-6074 or jcasey@citizentimes.com.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: New owners planning a restaurant for building in Marshall
