Starting a new business is time-consuming and stressful under the best of circumstances. But when you lose your partner just a few months after opening the doors, there’s also the unexpected emotional loss to deal with.
Eric Howard and Charley Fred Fuller Jr. opened the Downtowner Executive Lounge located in Neustadt Plaza in March after months of planning and renovation. But after Fuller died suddenly in September, Howard was forced to move forward on his own. “We’d like to dedicate our continued success to Charley,” he said.
He went so far as to name Fuller’s young daughter, Charli Elise, a “partner” in his memory. Howard’s next step is to increase the restaurant’s offerings and visibility.
“We have executive chef Steffon Lewis starting next week,” he said. “We’ll offer executive chef dinners on Thursday and Friday nights as well as “Uptown Specials” that can be ordered in advance. We will have the best dinner in town.”
The restaurant is open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. during the week and serves brunch from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. They serve a gourmet dinner from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, with turkey and dressing the first Sunday of every month. Hors d’oeuvres are served with cocktails on Monday, Thursday and Friday nights.
“We serve breakfast and lunch and have a coffee bar, an open salad bar, lunch wraps and daily specials,” he said. “People rave about (acting chef) Antwan Ray’s soups.”
Howard, who is a graduate of Ardmore High School and the University of Central Oklahoma, said he has always been enamored with restaurants located in office buildings, which are common in larger cities. As part of the Downtowner’s new image, the restaurant now features comfortable seating and a large-screen television in the lounge behind the serving area.
Howard, who is also an accountant, works at the restaurant as time permits and has learned how important customer service is to a new business.
“We’re catering to our customers in terms of menu and hours,” he said. “We are trying to bring a more upscale restaurant business to downtown Ardmore.”
Steve Biehn
221-6546
