“New Reidsville restaurant has musical theme”

New Reidsville restaurant has musical theme

Posted: 18 Sep 2010 09:00 PM PDT

Frank Fleming serves as a manager of one of Reidsville's newest dining and music establishments, The 3^rd Measure Café, located at 306 N. Scales Street. The café serves up jazz music and Southern comfort food.

Cool, easy notes of jazz music emanate from speakers, and the smell of fried Southern comfort food fills the air. The 3^rd Measure Café in Reidsville opened recently and offers up homemade fare and toe-tapping music from its spot on North Scales Street, across from Commonwealth Brands.

David Lawson and his wife, Peviany Lawson, opened the doors to the new café at the end of August. The couple, along with manager Frank Fleming, have transformed the spot – previously occupied by a Japanese steakhouse – into their version of a family-friendly restaurant during the week and a music-infused, date-night locale on the weekend.

David Lawson, a musician who knows his way around the drums and the bass guitar, said he always wanted to open up a music establishment. Peviany, who regularly concocts her own blends of sauces and seasonings, dreamed of running a restaurant. So the duo combined their ideas.

The menu currently features a specialty large and juicy burger, chicken wings in a variety of flavors – including a sweet and spicy Peviany creation – fish and pork chop sandwiches. And, as Fleming puts it, there are a couple of side items with a twist: fried green tomatoes and fried green beans.

The idea, Fleming said, is to offer a fun place to go for food and entertainment.

"It's something we enjoy," Fleming said of the new venture.

The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner throughout the week, but on Friday and Saturday nights, the lights are dimmed, candles light the tabletops and the music is the focal point. The team behind the café is hoping it will become the place to go in Reidsville to hear jazzy, bluesy tunes on a weekend night – a place to "sit down and wine and dine and also listen to some nice music," David Lawson said.

Fleming said the establishment – particularly when it's in weekend jazz mode – is geared to adults looking for somewhere they can go for a good time that's a little calmer than a sports bar with loud televisions or a dance club with thumping dance tracks.

"Our ultimate goal is to provide entertainment every weekend," Fleming said, "…and showcase a lot of local talent."

Local singers, bands, poets and DJs are welcome to the stage at The 3^rd Measure, he said.

Eventually, Fleming added, they hope to expand the menu and open up on Sundays – perhaps even becoming a quiet place to watch those Sunday night NFL games. Currently, the restaurant is open Monday through Saturday.

On Friday, Sept. 24, the café is hosting a homecoming-themed music night, in light of Rockingham County high schools' homecoming festivities, called the Homecoming Alumni Jam, featuring the band Madstone. The show will be from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., with the kitchen and bar open throughout.

Fleming is optimistic the community will latch on to their concept.

"(We're) off to a pretty good start," he said.

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