? The Country Squire To Continue
Same Traditions Under New Owners
A
The Country Squire res
taurant has been under the
management of the Eakes
Investment Corporation
since October 12, 1982, when
the establishment was pur
chased by Doris and Joe
Hakes of Kure Beach. The
restaurant will be operated
by Kenneth Smith, a native
of Duplin County.
^ The Eakes Corporation will
take an absentee-ownership
role in the Country Squire,
leaving its managment to
Smith, who worked with the
restaurant's former owner
more than 20 months prior to
the sale. Joe West opened
the Country Squire August 5,
1961 and continued to
operate the business until his
health forced the sale of the
Establishment.
^ The Eakes Corporation
owns a number of nursing
homes across the state anjl
within the past few years has
purchased one of the chain of
Big Daddy's restaurants lo
cated in Kure Beach.
According to Smith, Country
Squire manager, the Duplin
restaurant was purchased
because of its established
E-pmation and success.
^ "Mr. West taught me the
artistic value of fine food,"
Smith said. "I had been in
the fast food services before
coming to the Squire. No
changes will be made under
the new ownership. I plan to
continue in the tradition in
which Joe West founded the
restaurant." Smith added
structural changes have been
.made to the restaurant's
Wtchen and are improving
the service offered customers
by the waiters and wait
resses.
The Country Squire has
served the public for 2*1
years. It opened with a
seating capacity of 70 per
sons and a staff of six ?
including West, his wife and
mother. Todav the restaurant
has served people from every
^tate in the nation and
Hiost foreign countries, the
former owner explained.
And. during the tourist
months, the Country Squire
hosts about 8.000 people and
off-season the restaurant will
serve approximately 4.000
people per month. Today's
staff consists of about 28
employees.
I had a. lot of inspiration
from English literature "
Joe West said. "Financially,
had to start very inex
pensively, so I started (the
restaurant) with the idea" of
early pioneers and the lot,
cabin. And it grew into what
it is today." Today the
restaurant has grown from a
beginning of 1.300 square
feet and a seating capacity
ot 70 into several dining halls
bearing names from English
literature and serving 450
people.
"I tried to create some
thing different from any
other restaurant. Often it is
hard to create something
totally original, but you can
always strive toward that
goal." West explained his
goal was to create a relaxed
atmosphere which induced
creativity and freedom of
communication for its
clientele. "You can eat food
anywhere; however, people
do want good food, but in this
time and busy world, people
do not have time to com
municate and this type of
place (Count.y Squire) give*
? hem that opportunity.
I he restaurant opened
with West, a former science
teacher, as chef. The occu
pation was self-taught. West
explained. West enlisted the
comments of his customers
to establish the average
tastes. He traveled to ob
serve other chefs and read to
gain knowledge of cooking,
dodav West prefers to make
up his own recipes rather
than follow a cookbook.
"We only had seating for
70 customers in the begin
ning. West explained. "I
would cook and go out and
'alk with our customers and
ask. what is a rare steak, a
medium steak, and well-done
steak. I would find about
what the average tastes
were."
I don t know where the
lime went," West said. "It
was like going to sleep and
waking up today. I did not
want to see the Country
Squire go down, and I was
not in sufficiently good
good health to manage the
business." The sale of the
Country Suuire was a hard
decision and West spoke
with confidence in the
present ownership and
management to continue the
established tradition of the
Country Squire. West has
undergone major cancer sur
gery and following radiation
treatments during the past
fe? months. Still recovering,
West has no plans to begin
work in the area at this time.
COUNTRY SQUIRE TRADITION CON
TINUES - The Countr*' Squire restaurant
was purchased by the Kure Beach-based
Fakes Investment Corporation during
October of 1982. The corporation will take an
absentee ownership role in the management
of the restaurant and has made only
structural changes within the kitchen area.
Kenneth Smith, the present manager and
1
former assistant to Joe West, the original ||
owner of the restaurant, expressed plans to j
continue operating The Country Squire in
the tradition made famous by its former
owner. Pictured above, left to right. Joe
West, former owner of The Country Squire,
and present manager Kenneth Smith at the
entrance of the restaurant .
JAMES KENAN NOMINEES TO GOVER- a
NOR'S SCHOOL - The Governor's School of f
North Carolina is a summer program for 5
gifted and talented high school students. c
This year high school students will parti- t
cipate in academic or cultural arts en
richment courses. James Kenan nominees f
are pictured, left to right, seated. Sonia Bell,
cademic; Becky Frederick, academic: Cindy
raust. cultural: and Lisa Herring, cultural,
landing, left to right. Douglas Baker,
ultural: Anthony Hall, academic; Janet
frock, cultural; and Carlton Smith, cultural.
Jot pictured is academic nominee Steve
farrcll.
Cup'dJSffedals
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