Former cafe keeps diner style, adds space, games entertainment
By Jonathan E. Coleman
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From the street, it doesn’t look like much has changed at the former Luv B’s Cafe. Other than a sign announcing the restaurant’s new name — B’s Grill & Bar — everything looks pretty similar.
The inside, however, is a different story.
After a little more than two years in Harrisburg, Mechelle Baillieux, who operates the business with the help of her family, decided it was time for another change. When the accounting office next door became available, Baillieux decided it was time to act.
A couple of months and countless hours of renovations later, B’s Grill & Bar opened its doors with a new look, including an 800-square-foot game room.
“Originally we were going to do a secluded non-smoking section,” Baillieux said. “We sat down and discussed it and said, ‘There are 24 restaurants in Harrisburg and only two bars. Let’s make it a grill and bar.’”
Baillieux said she wanted to keep the emphasis on the family’s love for food, which has driven business since it first opened in Charlotte in 2001, but wanted to add options for entertainment as well.
Now, patrons can throw darts, shoot pool or play video games while they wait for food, or as after-dinner entertainment.
The grill also serves as a live music venue every Saturday night.
“We have a band every other Saturday and we have open mic night every Saturday,” Baillieux said. “So it’s live every week.”
Baillieux is more than happy to give much of the credit to her customers — some of whom even helped with the renovations — for the change.
“I have to give it to our customers,” she said. “We listened to them. Ninety percent of them wanted something to do where they didn’t have to go to Charlotte or Concord.”
In the weeks since opening the improved restaurant, Baillieux said she’s already seeing results, with good numbers of customers, many of them repeat customers, coming in.
She hopes to draw even more numbers with added entertainment options like a new poker league or pool and dart tournaments, things she said, will “get the neighbors to meet the neighbors.”
B’s Grill & Bar is open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Daily food and drink specials flank a menu of burgers, salads and sandwiches.
• Contact Jonathan E. Coleman at 704-789-9105.