GRAVETTE -- A popular Gravette eating place is now under new management since Joe Martinez, owner of Hollywood's Cafe, has sold his business to Hillary Drain. Drain took over operations at the restaurant on March 30 and has changed its name to Southern Yank Cafe.
Hillary explained that she went to work at Hollywood's as a dishwasher in August 2021. When she learned Joe was wanting to retire, she let him know she would be interested in purchasing the cafe since she had often dreamed of having a restaurant of her own. Since Martinez had been serving only breakfast and lunch and then closing at 1:30 p.m., they continued working together during those hours. Then Joe would leave and, starting in November, she kept the cafe open during the evening hours.
Drain says she chose the name for the cafe because she considers herself a Southern Yankee. She was born in south Florida, then, because her father was a Navy man, moved to Virginia, Maryland and finally to Hinckley, Minn., where she grew up.
Hillary and her husband moved to northwest Arkansas in 2006 and bought property in Washington County. She moved to Gravette in 2020 to help her mother since her father was experiencing health problems. When she began to get bored and felt she had too much time on her hands, she took the job at Hollywood's.
Hillary's husband was an Army man and they moved to various locations in the U.S. and in Europe. She has long worked in food service and has more than 3o years of experience in cafes and restaurants around the country and abroad.
After moving to northwest Arkansas, Hillary worked with the Jr. Master Gardeners, Washington County 4-H Club, as a parent volunteer. She taught food science to the youngsters and helped the club become the first nonprofit vendor on the Washington County fairgrounds, where it operated a food booth during Bikes, Blues and BBQ. Her daughter Samantha was captain of the winning team in the 4-H Food Bowl which went on to national competition.
Drain says she wants to focus on a combination of Yankee cuisine and Southern hospitality at the Southern Yank. She is also introducing dishes from European countries where she has lived. She offers lunch specials and dinner specials which change every day.
Hillary is making a change to the breakfast menu. She says, if a customer comes in and wants an omelet, she will make one but she plans to phase out the omelets and offer skillet breakfasts instead.
Hollywood's has long been known for its good Mexican food, but Hillary plans to eliminate much of the south of the border menu. She will continue to serve the popular nachos and Mexican stuffed potato but is dropping the tacos, enchiladas, burritos and taco salad, reasoning "if a person wants Mexican food, he can go to the Mexican restaurant."
Hillary is introducing many new items to the regular menu and in her daily specials. Many new vegetables, side dishes, meats and desserts appear on the nightly menu.
Hillary points out that foods prepared at Southern Yank are safe and sanitary. The cafe is ServSafe certified by the National Restaurant Association and Hillary is certified as a ServSafe food protection manager, accredited by the American National Standards Institute.
Open hours at Southern Yank are 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday. Hillary says she may extend hours to 9 p.m. as the days grow longer. Saturday hours are 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. The cafe is closed on Sunday but Drain plans to be open on Sunday, May 8, for Mother's Day, and Sunday, June 19, with specials on both of those days.
Southern Yank is located at 209 Main Street S.W., just east of the Baptist Church. The telephone number for the cafe is 479-787-8442 if someone wants to call in an order for takeout. Drain plans to hold a grand opening in the near future but urges diners not to wait to come in, get acquainted and sample the fare at Southern Yank.
Westside Eagle Observer/SUSAN HOLLAND
Hillary Drain (left), visits with diners in her cafe, the Southern Yank, as they offer suggestions for dishes they would like to see on the menu. Hillary took over operation of the cafe, located at 209 Main Street S.W., March 30 and gave it a new name.