News & Observer | newsobserver.com | Mall fills cafe's old space

Columnists: Haynie | Holly | Jones | Klonicki | LaGrone | Mark | Saylor | Serna | White  
2006:
Published: Oct 06, 2006 12:30 AM
Modified: Oct 06, 2006 04:51 AM

Mall fills cafe's old space

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More than a year ago, the well-known Cafe Piazza shut its doors on the first floor of Crabtree Valley Mall near the Hudson Belk department store. Known for its ample wine selection, quasi-outdoor seating and weekend singer who channeled Frank Sinatra, the cafe was one of the few locally owned restaurants in the mall.

Now, after a few temporary tenants, Crabtree has leased the space to another homegrown operation. Pharaoh's plans to open its third location by Thanksgiving.

The restaurant features deli sandwiches, hot dogs and hamburgers in its existing North Hills location and a location at the Progress Energy building downtown.

The Crabtree location will be "the biggest one, the prettiest one," said co-owner George McNeill. "This is the the baby of our Pharaoh's franchise. It's going to be our flagship store."

In addition to its regular menu, the Crabtree Pharaoh's will feature a small coffee shop in the 1,800-square-foot restaurant and a return of the storefront seating.

The decorations will also be larger. McNeill promised a showy facade with a gold sarcophagus lit with spotlights and a newly designed logo.

"It's really over the top," he said.

Crabtree Valley Mall is on Glenwood Avenue, just north of Interstate 440. For more information and a menu, visit www.pharaohs-inc.com.

* * *

If you're a bride-to-be with green to spend, you might sneak a peak at the Mariana Hardwick Trunk Show at Traditions in North Hills this weekend.

The show runs today and Saturday at the bridal store in the retail portion of The Alexan, at the north side of the complex at Six Forks and Lassiter Mill roads.

For more information, visit www.traditionsbridalshop.com.

Staff writer Sam LaGrone can be reached at 836-4951 or slagrone@newsobserver.com.
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