New Breakfast, Brunch And Lunch Concept Opens In Ooltewah

  • Tuesday, October 26, 2021

Marcus and Georgia Garner, owners of Cambridge Square’s Wine Down Bistro & Lounge, are opening a new breakfast, brunch and lunch concept called Neighbor. Cambridge Square is a mixed-use community located a quarter of a mile off Exit 11 in Ooltewah, and is home to dozens of local businesses and restaurants. The Garners were among the very first tenants when development began at Cambridge and have built a significant and loyal following over the last six years.

Wine Down expanded its space a little more than a year ago, separating the concept into a casual lounge and a Bistro. For Neighbor, they will be converting the lounge space into a full-service restaurant that will be open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., serving breakfast, brunch and lunch only. The decision to implement the Neighbor concept is one that the Garners contemplated for more than a year. They are targeting a December opening.

“We are very fortunate to have been extremely well-received in Ooltewah,” Mrs. Garner said. “Part of the reason for that success, aside from the many loyal customers, is Marcus’s ability to adapt and change our menus based on the feedback we receive from patrons. Neighbor fills a hole that people have been talking about for a long time and we finally decided that we were well-suited to fill it. Not just from a culinary perspective, but from a true neighborhood gathering destination as well.” 

House made biscuits and gravy, breakfast pastries, breakfast sandwiches, build your own breakfast plates, house made sausages, country hams, fresh salads, hand-crafted sandwiches as well as some traditional staples are just some of the items that you will find on the Neighbor menu. Beyond food, you can expect a coffee bar featuring local beans, espresso, lattes, and cappuccinos as well as grab and go items for those who are in a hurry.

“Definitely Southern,” Mr. Garner said of the menu that is now being finalized, “but with a modern twist. We want people to find their old favorites that are part of the region’s culinary history, but like Wine Down, we want to introduce people to some more innovative styles and dishes.”

As for the vibe and dining experience, the Garners want the feel to be casual and vibrant, much like traditional diners of old. To reinforce that vision, they have decided to decorate the space with “famous neighbors” from television and film.

“We’re going for a bit of nostalgia in the design of the space,” Mrs. Garner said. “And we have come to see Cambridge Square as an extended neighborhood which makes the pleasure of serving our patrons that much more rewarding. The name just fits.”

When not operating as a restaurant, the Neighbor space will be available for events, with a sharp focus on the greater Ooltewah community. The Garners envision the space being ideal for business organizations, churches and just about anything else that requires a place to congregate over food and a busy agenda.


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