QUESTION: Has the Smokehouse next to Steve’s Garden Market in Graham suspended its operations due to a coronavirus outbreak?
ANSWER: The Smokehouse has, indeed, closed its doors, albeit temporarily – and the restaurant’s owner insists that things which are simmering behind the scenes will enable the eatery to reopen in time for the second phase of the state’s staggered reemergence from the pandemic.
Justin Long, who owns both the Smokehouse and Steve’s Garden Market, contends that there hasn’t been any specific incidents which have prompted the closure of the establishment. Long added that he has simply seized the moment to make a few changes that he hopes will improve the overall experience for patrons when the eatery reopens.
“We’re deep cleaning right now through the next two or three days,” he elaborated in a phone interview with The Alamance News, “and we’re streamlining our menu. We’re also trying to figure out the most efficient way to get our customers in safely because our line gets so long.” Long said that he hopes to have everything ready in time for the Smokehouse to reopen on Monday.
