Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05
April 10, 2008 issue
Story by Sam Calhoun
According to co-owner Josh Grogan, Char Modern American Restaurant will open at 179 Howard Street in Boone in the former location of Gol! Express in early May. Josh shares ownership of the new restaurant with his wife Jessica Grogan. Both Josh and Jessica are from Banner Elk and have restaurant experience from The Corner Bar & Grill, the Palate Restaurant and The Blackboard restaurant.
Char Modern American Restaurant will serve “casual gourmet Americana” food, according to Grogan, including steaks, seafood and pasta. The restaurant will feature a bar with wine and beer. One side of the restaurant will offer a casual feel, catering to students and the younger crowd, and the other side of the restaurant will feature draperies and paintings and be more upscale, according to Grogan.
“With the loss of Coffey’s and Wildflower [restaurants] there is a vacuum left in Boone for casual, upscale restaurants,” said Grogan. “We are trying to make this restaurant friendly for Boone.”
When Char opens in early May—perhaps in time for ASU’s graduation, according to Grogan—the restaurant will be open only for dinner from 4:00 to 10:00 p.m., with the bar staying open until 12:00 a.m. In July or August, according to Grogan, the restaurant will begin offering lunch from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Grogan said he will have more information on specific menu items toward the end of April.