New event venue, eatery in Stanford ‘dream come true’ for owners

Published 3:48 pm Thursday, May 4, 2017

Photo by Abigail Whitehouse

STANFORD – It’s everything Angela Bryant loves – cooking, catering and decorating – all wrapped into one. And now, Bryant has a new venue to offer all of her favorite services called the Back Porch Club House Venue.
“This is everything I love, it’s everything I’ve dreamed of,” said Bryant as she sat down at one of the newly refurbished dining tables.
Formerly known as the Country Club, Back Porch Club House now occupies the space located next to the Dix River Golf Course on U.S. 27 in Stanford.
Bryant said she found herself working so many weddings she decided to take the leap, along with her husband, and together the pair are now living what has always been a lifelong dream.
“We’ve always wanted to own our own business,” she said. “We’re from Lincoln County so we know a lot of people and I think once it takes off it’ll be good…because we’re not just a restaurant.”
After much remodeling, the new venue, which officially opened April 12, is equipped to serve breakfast, lunch and dinner – but that’s not all.
The new venue offers a 145-acre area on the Dix River Golf Course that is now available for wedding ceremonies.
“We can do banquets, weddings, anniversaries and family reunions, etc…” she said. “If a bride and groom came to me, I would be able to offer them everything.”
Bryant said by everything she means a venue, deejay services, the pick of three photographers, as well as a scenic place to take the photos, catering and planning. Geno’s Formal Affair Tuxedo rentals are also available, along with dressing rooms and a fitting area, and an onsite photo booth complete with “wacky props” will be available to keep guests entertained throughout the entire event.
“I’m working with Barbara Cordier to do honeymoon packages for people,” she said.
While remodeling and working at the new venue, Bryant has also been attending school and will soon receive certification in Hospitality Business Management through Somerset Community College.
Bryant’s husband, Stephen, works full-time at Berry Plastics in Danville but said he’s looking forward to focusing all of his attention on the new venue.
“We’ve always just wanted to do our own thing and be our own boss, make our own rules,” he said. “It’s a lot of work so far.”
Bryant said the renovations to date have taken about eight weeks.
“We painted every stick of furniture in here,” Angela Bryant said. “This was the original furniture from 1966. We wanted to brighten it up and have somewhere that’s comfortable and relaxing.”
The restaurant, which is now open Wednesday through Friday at 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, offers breakfast all day and a variety of lunch and dinner items, from grilled chicken sandwiches and french fries to pinto beans and corn bread.
The restaurant also takes call-in orders, Bryant said, which is already becoming a popular lunch idea for locals who have time constraints.
The menu items might look familiar but the recipes are homemade, Bryant said. Some are recipes passed down from her grandmother and others came from her husband’s grandmother.
The catering services offered are buffet style with a variety of fresh food made on-site to choose from: finger foods; BBQ; All American Cookout; Italian; Country Cooking; Carnival Foods; and desserts.
The Bryants said they still have some renovating left to do as they set their sights on fixing up the outside of the building, filling in the pool behind it and creating an outdoor eating area and decorative courtyard.
“It’s in the works,” Angela Bryant laughed. “Our goal is to eventually turn it into an outdoor eating area and have some live music out there on Fridays and Saturday.”
SO YOU KNOW 
The Back Porch Club House Venue is located at 2220 US Hwy 27 N in Stanford. If the venue is reserved for an event, food will be served from the concession trailer located next to the Dix River Pro-Shop.
For more information contact Angela Bryant at (606) 510-4392 or angelabryant1975@yahoo.com. The Lincoln County Chamber and Back Porch Club House, the restaurant at Dix River Country Club, will be hosting their grand opening and ribbon cutting on Friday evening May 26 from 5-6:30.

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