Though Magnolia Republic has been open since the Fourth of July, the new restaurant will hold its Grand Opening this weekend for the public.
The tapas and wine bar was opened by David Cunningham after years of planning.
“We have always wanted to do something,” Cunningham said. “We have had opportunities in the past, but this kind of fell into our lap and we ran with it. It is something that we have been planning for a few years.”
Cunningham has been a builder in Highlands since 1997, but he said opening this restaurant was successful because of his family unit.
“We are a good family unit, and we back each other up,” Cunningham said. “Our daughter waits tables and makes the charcuterie boards. We also have Zach, who we like to say was ‘adopted.’”
Cunningham’s wife, Jennifer, has been in the food and beverage industry for 20 years and Cunningham owned a deli once before in Highlands.
Since opening on the Fourth of July, Cunningham said business has been slow paced.
“We have been slow paced, that’s no lie, but that is why we are having the Grand Opening now,” Cunningham said. “We wanted to open earlier in the season, like in May, but things kept getting postponed.”
Along with the regular dining, the Magnolia Republic plans to offer guest chef dinners.
“In October, we plan on having Chris DuPont come out as a guest chef,” Cunningham said. “He has a pretty big following and I think people would be interested.”
The overall goal of the restaurant, according to Cunningham, is providing an atmosphere for friends and family.
“We have always wanted to be part of the community,” Cunningham said. “We want a place where families and friends can come together and enjoy some good food and drinks. We also want to make the place more cultural by bringing in live music and open mic nights. In the future we will be hosting different CLE events.”
The drinks on tap for the guests that come into Magnolia Republic will be mostly wine, bourbon and different spirits.
“We don’t really make specialty cocktails,” Cunningham said. “We will make some regular ones like a Manhattan, but we are really focusing on sipping liquors. Eventually, we want to incorporate a cigar area.”
Cunningham said along with every other business, Magnolia Republic is hiring in all positions including bartenders, cooks, kitchen staff and waiters.
Magnolia Republic is located at 462 Dillard Road in Highlands and is open Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 2 – 10 p.m. On Tuesday and Wednesday, they are closed.
For more information on the restaurant, visit magnoliarepublic.com.
- By Christopher Smith