Here’s what’s happening in Davidson County: Bridget’s Kitchen has an opening date…sort of; Speedy’s BBQ Opens at New Location; The hospice event will help others remember loved ones who have died.
Bridget’s kitchen update
Bridget and Dale Evans feel like they’ve been planning a party for a year without ever getting around to the celebration.
The couple announced in the summer of 2022 that they were opening Bridgett’s Kitchen — a smoked meats and home cooking restaurant — on West Center Street in Lexington and had hoped to open around Labor Day 2022. That date, however, came and went without grand opening, and left many in the area asking, “When is Bridget’s Kitchen going to open?”
Now, even with some boxes they still need to check, like installing a massive exhaust system in the kitchen, building a larger-than-expected toilet, inspections and other tasks, they can “see the light at the end of the tunnel,” he said. Bridget Evans.
While not fully open, Evans has worked out a way to be partially open starting April 26 with the county’s first community kitchen approved by the Davidson County and North Carolina health departments. The Evans family partnered with Amanda Everson, their close friend and owner of The Factory — Coffee & Waffles, which is located in the same building as Bridgett’s Kitchen.
Dale will be working in the kitchen at Bridgett’s Kitchen, smoking all the meat for their limited takeout only menu, while Bridget will be preparing all the sides in The Factory’s kitchen downstairs in the back of Center Street Plaza.
Plates or cart items will be served from 4:00 PM until they sell out, which is expected to be around 8:00 PM, Wednesday through Saturday. They will begin taking orders daily at 2pm at 336-590-9759.
The special permit means that The Factory staff and Bridgett’s Kitchen staff cannot be in the factory to cook or work at the same time. The factory will close at 2pm and Bridget Evans will be there until 2.30pm
“It was a leap of faith and a Divine process,” she said. “We prayed a lot. That and all the people cheering us on and saying they can’t wait for us to open is what kept us going and got us to this point.”
The limited menu will feature selected smoked meats on certain days of the week: on Wednesdays, turkey, brisket and sausage; on Thursday, pork ribs, brisket and sausage; on Friday half a barbecued chicken, breast and sausage; and Saturday, brisket and pork sausage.
“Now we might add something one of these days as the weeks go by,” said Bridget. “Dale might get up one day and say, ‘Hey, I’m going to throw some (chicken) wings in the smoker.’
Sides that will be available include red skin potato salad, sweet potato casserole, smoked mac and cheese, slaw and barbecue slaw. Desserts will change weekly. The first week will be a peach cobbler. The communal kitchen permit won’t allow Dale Evans to fry meat for baked beans, so those won’t be available yet, nor will the mashed potatoes, green beans and some other items.
Customers should follow Bridgett’s Kitchen on Facebook and Instagram to stay informed of what’s being served, Bridget Evans said.
“We’re going to have to get a feel for demand and what and how much people want,” she said. “With this permission, we cannot store, refrigerate and reheat for another evening the food that has not been purchased. Anything left over each night should be thrown away. We can’t afford to throw food away, so we’re really going to be limited until you see what the demand is going to be.”
The Evanses said they won’t venture to announce a new opening date for Bridgett’s Kitchen until they know they’re a week or two away from opening for full service at their own restaurant.
“We hope to open in 2023,” Dale said with a smile.
On April 15, Bridgett’s Kitchen did a one-off with neighboring business Smoke & Oak Premium Bourbon and Cigar Lounge. They pre-sold 130 plates of brisket and pulled pork with sides.
The factory where customers will pick up their Bridgett’s Kitchen plates is located at 206C W. Center St. in the rear of the Center Street Plaza building across from Vance Circle.
Speedy’s BBQ is opening a new location
Home at last.
Speedy’s Barbecue opened at its new location at 408 Piedmont Drive on April 20. The iconic Lexington barbecue restaurant has called 1617 Winston Road home since 1963.
The restaurant had originally posted on its social media pages that it planned to open at its new location on April 11. Unforeseen problems delayed this by several days.
Speedy’s BBQ had to move to make way for the Winston Road expansion project. Most of the businesses on the same side of Winston Road have already been demolished for the project. The former Speedy will soon meet a wrecking ball.
Loyal customers turned out to pack the restaurant at its grand reopening on April 20.
The restaurant’s phone numbers remain 336-248-2410 and 336-248-2092. Curb service is also still available. Thirteen parking spaces on the side of the building are for curbside service.
The new site is the former home of Tricia’s Catering and Hog City Cafe.
The hospice event allows others to remember loved ones
Hospice of Davidson County is giving back an opportunity for the community to remember loved ones and honor cherished memories through its summer memorial event.
Light the Way Home will be held at 7:00 pm on May 3rd at the Hospice of Davidson County Campus. Community members will have the chance to create their own light fixture while enjoying light refreshments and participating in a short program to remember loved ones.
Participants can also purchase a manual maze that can be personalized with a name upon request. The maze was handcrafted by Breanna Macon of Macon a Mess Pottery in Seagrove, the artist who created last year’s memorial ornament. The manual maze can be purchased for $15.
Registration is required for this event, but it is free. To register, please visit hospiceofdavidson.org or call (336) 474-2069.