Lifelong friends see future success after Laurens restaurant’s soft opening
Moultrie Opens – From Left, Jeffrey Ponder, Matthew and Sidney Perkins and Chef Zach Owens are happy with the success of the soft opening at Moultrie Southern Cuisine. Photo by Judith Brown.
Laurens, South Carolina – With LDHS graduate Zach Owens in his new role as head chef and a full week into their soft opening, Moultrie Southern Cuisine owners Matthew Perkins and Jeffrey Ponder are already pleased with the responses coming in from guests and even repeat guests.
And according to Matthew’s wife, Sidney Perkins, who has been assisting with the opening, the team is excited about the future of their first Laurens restaurant venture, located at 101 E. Laurens Street.
“We honestly could not have asked for a more supportive welcome from the community,” she said. “We are extremely optimistic.”
While it’s the first location the restaurant developers have opened in Laurens County, it’s far from their first.
Matthew and Jeffrey have been friends since they met in church when they were 5 years old. They grew up close by in Fountain Inn, just inside Laurens County and all of them came from families in the food service business.
While Moultrie Southern Cuisine is their first full service dine-in restaurant, they already own ramen and sub shops in Mauldin and a Boba tea shop in Fountain Inn, where they are also building a larger Ramen restaurant.
Now adding Moultrie and its soon-to-open bourbon tasting room, The Fox Hole, on the lower floor, the team is busier than ever.
“I saw something somewhere that said, ‘Why work a 9-to-5 job when you can work 24/7?’And I said, ‘Yea, that’s about it,’” joked Sidney.
Although preparing for the opening has been time consuming, being part of the up-and-coming food scene in Laurens is right where they want to be.
“We are in agreement with all the business owners around here that the more the merrier,” Sidney said, “and our type of food is not in direct competition with anyone.”
Since arriving, they’ve become friends with the owners of nearby restaurants, have eaten on a regular basis at Tacos & Bla Bla Bla, Tap and Table, Roma, Sanitary Market, Groucho’s Deli and Arnold’s of Laurens.
“Our main goal is to bring as much attention as possible to Laurens,” Matthew said. “We want to get the bar downstairs open, and we’d like to open another place here in Laurens.”
Evening meals are served Wednesday and Thursday, and lunch and dinner hours are Friday through Sunday. Reservations are welcome at 864-715-0079.
