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Boone Restaurants

Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2017 10:16 am
by appst89
Was in Boone over the weekend for the first time in a few months and noticed that Capone's Pizza downtown was no longer there and that Primo's in the mall was gone.

I had been to both. I hate to see businesses close, but I can guess the restaurant business in Boone is pretty tough.

Re: Boone Restaurants

Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2017 10:19 am
by NoLongerLurking
Capone's moved to that shopping center with Big Lots near the theater. They needed a bigger place and more parking. It's still delicious, my wife and I went Saturday.

Re: Boone Restaurants

Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2017 10:49 am
by bigCasu
Selfishly disappointed that Capone's moved. Was one of the cheaper downtown lunch spots.

Re: Boone Restaurants

Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2017 10:52 am
by NO.2
I'm curious to see how Capone's does in their new spot. From an outsider's perspective it seems that their bread 'n butter customer base was the King street lunch crowd and Tuesday pint night (AKA Taco Tuesday Pregame). I don't think either will translate well to New Market.

Murphy's was recently renamed to Ransom. They have a new coat of paint, smaller and slightly pricier menu (don't worry, the pizza hasn't really changed) and a coffee bar now. Despite the changes it still seemed like the same old Dirty Murph's during my last visit.

Re: Boone Restaurants

Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2017 11:12 am
by Gonzo
NO.2 wrote:Murphy's was recently renamed to Ransom. They have a new coat of paint, smaller and slightly pricier menu (don't worry, the pizza hasn't really changed) and a coffee bar now. Despite the changes it still seemed like the same old Dirty Murph's during my last visit.
What's in a name? That which we call a meth head by any other name would not have teeth.

Re: Boone Restaurants

Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2017 11:27 am
by appst89
NO.2 wrote:I'm curious to see how Capone's does in their new spot. From an outsider's perspective it seems that their bread 'n butter customer base was the King street lunch crowd and Tuesday pint night (AKA Taco Tuesday Pregame). I don't think either will translate well to New Market.

Murphy's was recently renamed to Ransom. They have a new coat of paint, smaller and slightly pricier menu (don't worry, the pizza hasn't really changed) and a coffee bar now. Despite the changes it still seemed like the same old Dirty Murph's during my last visit.
Yeah, I meant to mention Murphy's/Ransom in my original post. We noticed that change on the way out of town. Is that a change in ownership or just a rebranding?

Anybody have any idea what happened to Primo's?

Re: Boone Restaurants

Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2017 11:38 am
by bigCasu
Primo's ownership just decided to hang it up. Boone Mall is rather bare these days.

Re: Boone Restaurants

Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2017 11:41 am
by JTApps1
I hate that Primo's closed up shop. Their Saturday pizza special was great for the few game days that we didn't tailgate. Might have to try Capone's as most people have good things to say.

Re: Boone Restaurants

Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2017 11:53 am
by NoLongerLurking
Does anyone remember the name of the Italian restaraunt that was in Valle Crucis at one time and then was in Primo's spot in the mall? It started off as "Good Eats" in Foscoe.

Re: Boone Restaurants

Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2017 11:56 am
by NO.2
appst89 wrote:
NO.2 wrote:I'm curious to see how Capone's does in their new spot. From an outsider's perspective it seems that their bread 'n butter customer base was the King street lunch crowd and Tuesday pint night (AKA Taco Tuesday Pregame). I don't think either will translate well to New Market.

Murphy's was recently renamed to Ransom. They have a new coat of paint, smaller and slightly pricier menu (don't worry, the pizza hasn't really changed) and a coffee bar now. Despite the changes it still seemed like the same old Dirty Murph's during my last visit.
Yeah, I meant to mention Murphy's/Ransom in my original post. We noticed that change on the way out of town. Is that a change in ownership or just a rebranding?

Anybody have any idea what happened to Primo's?
Wine to Water purchased the building in the spring, I think Tdog wrote an article about it. At the time of the purchase the owners said that they did not have plans to change anything. The reneging of that has ruffled quite a few feathers in town.

I agree with Gonzo and don't​ think it will really change much. During my one post name change visit I was still able to send him a Snapchat of an argument between what looked to be two East Tennessee meth heads.

Re: Boone Restaurants

Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2017 12:00 pm
by NoLongerLurking
NoLongerLurking wrote:Does anyone remember the name of the Italian restaraunt that was in Valle Crucis at one time and then was in Primo's spot in the mall? It started off as "Good Eats" in Foscoe.
Mangia Buona.... I wonder if that family is still in the area. I lived off their food when they were in Foscoe in 2002-2003.

Re: Boone Restaurants

Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2017 2:21 pm
by EastHallApp
So long as nobody messes with my Murphy burger and cheese fries.

Re: Boone Restaurants

Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2017 2:28 pm
by NoLongerLurking
EastHallApp wrote:So long as nobody messes with my Murphy burger and cheese fries.
There are many restaurants in Boone that only turn a profit thanks to visitors/tourists/alumni. It's safe to say Murphy's was not leaning too heavily on those 1-10 times a year customers. I am confused as to why they changed their branding, however. I wasn't even aware and I drive down King at least a few times monthly. I'd cautiously expect them not to screw up too much on the "new" menu.

Re: Boone Restaurants

Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2017 2:50 pm
by Gonzo
NO.2 wrote:
appst89 wrote:
NO.2 wrote:I'm curious to see how Capone's does in their new spot. From an outsider's perspective it seems that their bread 'n butter customer base was the King street lunch crowd and Tuesday pint night (AKA Taco Tuesday Pregame). I don't think either will translate well to New Market.

Murphy's was recently renamed to Ransom. They have a new coat of paint, smaller and slightly pricier menu (don't worry, the pizza hasn't really changed) and a coffee bar now. Despite the changes it still seemed like the same old Dirty Murph's during my last visit.
Yeah, I meant to mention Murphy's/Ransom in my original post. We noticed that change on the way out of town. Is that a change in ownership or just a rebranding?

Anybody have any idea what happened to Primo's?
Wine to Water purchased the building in the spring, I think Tdog wrote an article about it. At the time of the purchase the owners said that they did not have plans to change anything. The reneging of that has ruffled quite a few feathers in town.

I agree with Gonzo and don't​ think it will really change much. During my one post name change visit I was still able to send him a Snapchat of an argument between what looked to be two East Tennessee meth heads.
Do the new owners clean those beer lines? They were working on two decades of gunk in those things.

Re: Boone Restaurants

Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2017 3:05 pm
by CVAPP
The last time I was in Murphy's it was a nasty dive of a place. That's why I went.

Re: Boone Restaurants

Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2017 3:07 pm
by NoLongerLurking
Gonzo wrote:
NO.2 wrote:
appst89 wrote:
NO.2 wrote:I'm curious to see how Capone's does in their new spot. From an outsider's perspective it seems that their bread 'n butter customer base was the King street lunch crowd and Tuesday pint night (AKA Taco Tuesday Pregame). I don't think either will translate well to New Market.

Murphy's was recently renamed to Ransom. They have a new coat of paint, smaller and slightly pricier menu (don't worry, the pizza hasn't really changed) and a coffee bar now. Despite the changes it still seemed like the same old Dirty Murph's during my last visit.
Yeah, I meant to mention Murphy's/Ransom in my original post. We noticed that change on the way out of town. Is that a change in ownership or just a rebranding?

Anybody have any idea what happened to Primo's?
Wine to Water purchased the building in the spring, I think Tdog wrote an article about it. At the time of the purchase the owners said that they did not have plans to change anything. The reneging of that has ruffled quite a few feathers in town.

I agree with Gonzo and don't​ think it will really change much. During my one post name change visit I was still able to send him a Snapchat of an argument between what looked to be two East Tennessee meth heads.
Do the new owners clean those beer lines? They were working on two decades of gunk in those things.
Two decades of organic free range flavor.

Re: Boone Restaurants

Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2017 3:11 pm
by Gonzo
NoLongerLurking wrote:
Gonzo wrote:
NO.2 wrote:
appst89 wrote:
NO.2 wrote:I'm curious to see how Capone's does in their new spot. From an outsider's perspective it seems that their bread 'n butter customer base was the King street lunch crowd and Tuesday pint night (AKA Taco Tuesday Pregame). I don't think either will translate well to New Market.

Murphy's was recently renamed to Ransom. They have a new coat of paint, smaller and slightly pricier menu (don't worry, the pizza hasn't really changed) and a coffee bar now. Despite the changes it still seemed like the same old Dirty Murph's during my last visit.
Yeah, I meant to mention Murphy's/Ransom in my original post. We noticed that change on the way out of town. Is that a change in ownership or just a rebranding?

Anybody have any idea what happened to Primo's?
Wine to Water purchased the building in the spring, I think Tdog wrote an article about it. At the time of the purchase the owners said that they did not have plans to change anything. The reneging of that has ruffled quite a few feathers in town.

I agree with Gonzo and don't​ think it will really change much. During my one post name change visit I was still able to send him a Snapchat of an argument between what looked to be two East Tennessee meth heads.
Do the new owners clean those beer lines? They were working on two decades of gunk in those things.
Two decades of organic free range flavor.
They're "seasoned."

Re: Boone Restaurants

Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2017 4:03 pm
by T-Dog
Primo's owners hung it up May 21. Nothing against Boone Mall or anything like that, just wanted out of the restaurant business. Boone Mall tried to get them to stay. The owner was also the head chef, so she might have been burned out IMO.

Wine 2 Water was upstairs of Murphy's and bought the building, but a private group of investors, which include some W2W people, bought the restaurant and changed the name 2-3 weeks ago. They added a breakfast menu and are open at 7 am with a coffee bar and King St seating. They were still scrubbing when I visited, but the smell is gone. Most the menu is the same plus some healthy choices and said if there's something not on the new menu, 9/10 times, they can make an old menu item. A portion of sales go to W2W's missions. Taps have been completely replaced and it's been painted a lighter color, but as the GM told me, "it's still dirty Murphs" in spirit.

Capone's moved to New Market where Cici's Pizza and Mountain House use to be. Lots more room and two big kitchens. Said they were tired of the parking situation on King St (not being able to validate tickets with the new automated system, etc), said it was like the town wanted businesses to move away.

Starbucks near Burger King is slated to open early August. Publix has been open and busy.

There's some other updates that'll be in the paper soon.

Re: Boone Restaurants

Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2017 7:11 pm
by MAD Doctor
I hope Capone's makes a better run at it in New Market than Mountain House did. I used to love the Mountain House when it was crammed into that cracker box on 321. It jumped the shark when it moved the first time and got outCrackerBarreled by Cracker Barrel.

Re: Boone Restaurants

Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2017 7:19 pm
by proasu89
I miss the old Murphy's when it was on 105 where the Comfort Suites is now. I worked the graveyard shift at Foxfire ski rental and spent many nights in Murphy's waiting on the skis to come back in. It was clean and the food was great.