Welcome to the Beach in Downtown Statesville

Downtown Statesville is more than just shops and restaurants- it’s a town that is known for its community, its food, and its people, and since 2013, Jason Cole and Andrea Chadwick, have been one of the many reasons why Downtown Statesville has become a beacon for both locals and newcomers. With each passing year, the atmosphere has changed and grown into what it is today- a winsome atmosphere that draws people in for the food, but keeps them coming back over and over because of the people and the community that make up the streets of Downtown. Jason and Andi have been restaurant owners in Statesville since 2013, with their first restaurant being Twisted Oak American Bar & Grill. They then went on to open Unwined Bar & Eatery in 2015, Broad St. Burger Co. in 2017, and now the newest member of their family will be Smokin’ Southern Cantina, which is expected to debut early November.

Jason and Andi each have their own stories on how they have ended up where they are, and as fate would have it, their stories merged and Statesville has blossomed because of it.

Andi has lived in Statesville for twenty years, and grew up with her mom being the one who instilled in her her drive and passion for the restaurant business. “My mom owned one of the most popular restaurants in our area in Ohio. I started as a dishwasher, peeled the potatoes, and did coat check,” and after growing up in the restaurant business, it only fed her deep desire for wanting her own restaurant. “I’ve always wanted my own, ever since I was little, I knew,” said Andi.

“The best childhood memories were in the family restaurant,” and with these memories being made in the kitchens and dining rooms of their parent’s restaurants, it’s easy to see what has motivated both Andi and Jason to do what they have done, and why they keep going.

“This is home. We know people here, we have the best feel, and we know what the people want,” came from both Andi and Jason’s mouths when I asked “why Statesville?”

“There were only a few places here,” said Andi, and it became clear that opportunity wasn’t the only thing that drove their desire to create and build here. It was also the people and their want to build something for everyone.

Smokin’, just like their other creations, was created with you in mind, and Jason and Andi are two owners that are in the restaurant business because of you and for you. Their personalities are two of the same, but very different. Andi is a colorful painting on the outside, but more reserved on the inside, and Jason seems to be the painter when she can’t quite put her feelings into words, and it just works. They create masterpieces together. Their partnership has created four restaurants in downtown Statesville, and all four are their own entities, their own experience, and their own expression of self. They both love the challenge, the exploration, and the excitement of fitting an idea to the space, and the restaurant industry fuels all of these outlets for them, which is why they keep creating. They keep creating so they can also keep giving back to the people that have helped their dreams become a reality, and to keep the streets of Downtown Statesville a growing beacon for locals and newcomers.

The community is a powerful driving force in their business model, and because of it, they held a local artist competition in order to have art from local artists not only hung on the walls, but also tattooed to the walls of their space. In fact, one of the artists also painted the most awe inspiring mural on their wall, as well as other hanging pieces, and as the colors and 3D embellishments ooze out flavor, it’s something that can’t be explained, only experienced. Beautifully crafted sugar skulls make up the identity of this fusion paradise, and the colors and lime accents that pour from them make your mouth water with excitement for what is to come out of the kitchen. Jason and Andi also used Troutman Chairs to create their tables and chairs, and they’re a pure masterpiece within themselves. Each table is a visual representation of the fusion of flavors and life that is happening inside of Smokin’, all with different characteristics and a different story to be told with each passing customer.

Smokin’ is, and will be, your little slice of paradise, your private cantina to explore different corners of the world, and your paradise fusion. Be sure to check it out at the end of the month, and with the Day of the Dead right around the corner, you never know what might happen within these new walls. Even though this will be Jason and Andi’s fourth restaurant grand opening, they wanted you to be sure to remember that every restaurant is different, and if the first week or two are a little bit rusty, don’t brush them off. They’re here for you and they always will be. We hope to see you at Smokin’ Southern Cantina, where one corner of the world meets the other!