A Winning Combination

Four-part Ogden venue opens The Parlour House bar and its outdoor space for concerts and markets

By JOE JANCSURAK  » Photos by MATT RAY PHOTOGRAPHY

Cocktails, food, ice cream and a well-shaded outdoor space for concerts and special events will soon exist in a single venue in the Ogden neighborhood of Wilmington. “The goal is to provide everything one needs for family- and pet-friendly fun,” says Katie Tarr, who, together with her husband Randy, is driving development of The Bend, a three-acre property owned by JGAT LLC. 

When it’s all said and done, there will be four components, two of which will open later this fall: the Middle Sound Grille restaurant to be operated by family friend Chris Politis, and a soft-serve ice cream parlor named Grumpy’s, “a playful oxymoron because no one can be grumpy while eating ice cream,” says Randy, who has wanted to open an ice cream shop since the couple and their two children, Wyatt (12) and Evelyn (10), moved from the Chicago area to Wilmington five years ago. Their neighborhood, Anchors Bend, inspired the venue’s name

While all four components will play key roles in The Bend’s overall success, two parts are now open: The Parlour House, a former 50-year-old, 2,000-square-foot brick ranch house that has lovingly been transformed into a cocktail lounge with a laid-back vibe along with its outdoor space, complete with a 20-ft. x 40-ft partially covered deck, picnic tables, a large-screen television for sporting events, a stage for live performances, a colorful mural painted by local artist Carleigh Sion and plentiful shade provided by the property’s magnolia, pine and oak trees. Pathways lead to the two garages that will soon become the Middle Sound Grille and Grumpy’s.

With this something-for-everyone venue, Randy and Katie hope to fill the neighborhood void left by Fermental Beer and Wines, known by locals for its outdoor music and family-friendly events, before it relocated to the Cargo District. Early indicators show the couple is headed in the right direction with live music scheduled on most Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, a ticketed concert held in August featuring UNCW and country music artist Jayson Arendt, comedy nights every other Wednesday, and plans for various vendor markets this fall.

As for The Parlour House’s friendly vibe, a great deal of attention has been paid to that, and it shows. The fireplace, leather couches and chairs, gold light fixtures, deep navy-blue walls, dark green bar stools and a 20-foot refurbished vintage shuffleboard give the venue, which seats about 50, a cozy look and feel.  

“We partnered with Greer Elizabeth Interior to help pick out pieces to bring our vision to life,” explains Katie. “We found a lot of second-hand items on Facebook Marketplace and The Ivy Cottage to create an eclectic and beautiful space.”   

The drink menu includes specialty cocktails such as the Strawberry Rain made with tequila, triple sec, simple syrup, rhubarb bitters, lemon juice, muddled strawberries and a splash of ginger beer and martinis that include Just Another Slice made with key lime rum cream, whipped vodka, pineapple juice, cream of coconut, lime juice and served in a glass with a graham cracker rim. Rounding out the adult beverages are 20 draft beers and a diverse wine list, as well as a selection of mocktails, including the On the Wagon with pomegranate, lemon juice, lavender bitters, simple syrup and a splash of soda. Finally, until the restaurant is open, Katie wants readers to know that food trucks will be on the premises seven days a week. 

While the vibe may be laid back, getting a new business off the ground is anything but. For that, Randy and Katie give thanks for the bar manager Joseph Petrof and their staff of 11. “They’re the best staff in town,” she adds. 

The couple, each of whom also hold full-time positions for now—Randy as an account manager for a heavy-lifting/transportation equipment company and Katie as a digital-marketing specialist for a direct-sales firm—also give thanks for the opportunity to work together. “Knowing what each other is experiencing, what’s stressing us and being able to share in all of the wins is great,” says Katie. “There really isn’t a downside, though balancing family life and adjusting to our new roles has been a challenge,” she admits.

Randy shares in the positivity, adding, “Katie’s my best friend and I love working with her. Working toward the same goals feels good.”

Might those goals include future expansion?  “I don’t think so,” says Randy. “But if ever there was another shaded property like this one that became available, we might be open to that.”