STYLE PENDULUM
PAGE 14//WEDNESDAY. SEPTEMBER 21. 2011 ^ ■
Take a bite of history at the Post Office Eatery
Sarah Carideo
Senior Reporter
Instead of going to the
usual spot for dinner tonight,
head to Gibsonville and try
The Post Office Eatery. The
four-month old restaurant,
although slightly off the
beaten path, is a quaint
dining alternative.
Owner Dave Sherrill has
worked in restaurants such
as Applebee’s and Sagebrush
Steakhouse for more than 30
years and decided to finally
open one of his own. The
building used to house a post
office in Gibsonville many
years ago and still has some
mailboxes still inside.
The low-key community
atmosphere of Gibsonville
was one reason Sherrill liked
this current location. He said
the community has accepted
him and he loves the feeling
of being welcome.
“It’s a perfect little town
like you’d see on TV,” Sherrill
said. “It’s just awesome—the
people and merchants are
wonderful. There's no better
place.”
The menu features many
traditional American food
options with some healthy
alternatives such as whole
wheat pasta. Sherrill’s
favorite dish on the menu is
the 14-ounce rib-eye steak.
“We hand-cut our own
steaks, buy our fish locally
and get as much produce as
possible from local venders,”
Sherrill said.
The same care that goes
toward the food also went
into the decision on prices.
“If you compare our prices
to other places in the area,
they are significantly less—
not just slightly, but multiple
dollars,” he said. “You can’t
JULIA SAYERS | Staff PtlMogcitto
The Post Office Eatery is a locally owned restaurant in downtown Gibsonville. The restaurant offers popular American cuisine and a quaint community atmosph^
get these low prices locally."
The most unique aspect
about The Post Office Eatery
is how involved Sherrill is. He
said he’s not just the owner,
but also the cook, the busboy,
the server, the washer and
everything in between.
“I try to talk to and meet
everyone,” he said. “It’s a
really cozy, comfortable
small town restaurant where
you don’t have any of that
hustle and bustle. It’s just a
nice, relaxing place.”
Some future plans for The
Post Office Eatery include
Wild Wing Wednesdays,
Ladies’ Night Thursdays, live
jazz music and all-you-can-
eat-shrimp and karaoke on
Fridays.
Sherrill hopes to do things
other restaurants don’t
necessarily do. He said he
would really like to cater to
Elon students and other local
residents. The Post Office
Eatery is located in downtown
Gibsonville on 128 W Main St.
JULIA SAYERS | Staff Ptrotographer
The Post Office Eatery in Gibsonville offers a variety of burgers and sandwiches.
Local salon offers more than just styling services
Sam Calvert
Online Managing Editor
An Elon University
performing arts student came
rushing through the doors of
Coming Attractions Hair and
Tanning salon. Her face was
red from tears, and she was in
a panic. She had dyed her hair
black for a part, and now it
wouldn’t come out.
For hours, the beauticians at
Coming Attractions worked on
her hair. They also fed her and
took care of her, as if she was
one of their own.
Eight hours later, the student
looked in the mirror and could
see her hair finally back to its
original color.
“We did it,” said Delores
Foster, owner of Coming
Attractions. “We got it off, and
she walked out of here with
hair."
The salon has seen many
problems tike this, including
the proverbial brush stuck in
the hair.
Coming Attractions has also
done hair for every occasion,
from proms to weddings to
funerals.
“We’ve had people stop on
the way to the funeral home to
get their hair done," Foster said.
The salon’s supplies have
not just been used in the
salon. They’ve also been on
loan in Elon's performing arts
programs.
One year, when the
program was putting on “Steel
Magnolias,” it used Coming
Attraction’s supplies as props
— which is amusing, since
many people tell the ladies at
Coming Attractions they have
an uncanny resemblance to
those from the movie.
“I’ve never seen us like that,
but everyone else sees us like
that,” Foster said.
Foster has been in charge
for 18 years, beginning when
the salon occupied the space
on Lebanon Avenue that now
belongs to Mynt.
In 1997, it moved to its
current location on North
Holt Avenue, behind Elon
Community Church.
When it first tried to
purchase the location, a
former fruit stand, there was
competition from another
local business owner, but when
Foster begged for the spot, he
relented.
Coming Attractions has
been there ever since.
“I can’t imagine going
anywhere else to work," said
Sherry Jones, who’s worked with
Foster for about 20 years. “It’s
like coming home to mom’s.”
And while other salons
experience friction and jealousy
among beauticians, Jones said
the ladies at Coming Attractions
have escaped all of that.
“We’ve been together for 20
years,” Foster said. “We have
all been together more than we
have with our families.”
Along with the customers,
the people of Coming
Attractions have become one
big family, both beauticians
said.
“It’s just a warm atmosphere,”
Jones said. “Everybody’s real
friendly. When people have
problems, we listen.”
The salon provides more
than just beauty services,
though. Often there is food to
Delores Foster, owner of Coming Attractions
eat, as well.
During the summertime,
there are tomato sandwiches
and other light, cool snacks.
At Christmas time, the ladies
provide a large selection of hors
d’oeuvres for their customers.
And even when there’s not
food, there is always a big bag
of candy.
“Everybody knows where
the candy is," Foster said. “1 buy
really good candy."
Even beyond food,
sometimes Foster will make
house calls, and while she’s
there, she’ll help out around the
house.
Sometimes that even Includes
cleaning out refrigerators and
styles a customer’s hair. The salon styles hair for every occasion, including weddings-
washing dishes.
While one customer was
getting her hair done inside the
salon, Foster was out washing
her car.
“She’s one of a kind,” Jones
said. “I haven’t met anyone like
her, and I don’t think I ever
will."
The customers range from
all ages, but Foster said there’s
one common thread |
them: they all want to
special. , „„,i
And no matter what, her g
is to leave the customers wi
smile. , , . tQ
“Everybody comes ^ j
look better." Foster said.
everybody leaves with a s
MORE ONLINE
Explore the salon and hear nnore from Delores
Foster in this video'fllH
http://blt.ly/EPsaloi^
SAM CALVERT
Online Managing