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Before the end of January, Cork Bistro in North Charleston's Park Circle neighborhood shut down its business. The move is not new since there are plenty of restaurants that does this to use it to their advantage as the slow foot traffic in the month of January doesn’t fit their business so that they could prepare for a tourist season that comes back to life around mid-February.
But, the restaurant that reopens is not the same one that closes back in January; the new restaurant is now called Cannon Trattoria. Some regular customer said that the new restaurant is a product of a reality TV show called Belly Up! Led by Atlanta chef Eddie Russell. The Cooking Channel show follows Russell as he helps old restaurants to become a new one by applying some innovation on the foods that they are offering without breaking the budget.
Cork Bistro was a modern American restaurant that served lunch and dinner. Despite that fact, owner Tradd Gibbs and Executive Chef Heather Edwards beg the executives of the show to take a look at their restaurant.
Edwards said that they have to agree to anything that they suggested even if that means changing the concept of their restaurant into a new one. The move was bold and that it took the business into a different direction.
Like what they always did in their past shows, the Belly Up! team has produced a menu that's heavy on charcuterie and small plates like pork belly crostini and grilled oysters. But, there are some long time patrons that weren’t in favor with the new menu. Using local ingredients, Edwards now serve some of the local menu that the former Cork Bistro was offering.
However, Cannon Trattoria might be missing something from a life of a restaurant like its opening. The practice of bringing a restaurant to life is slowly turning into an art form in Charleston. The opening dates aren’t carried out as it is being pushed back week after week and it is increasing the interest among patrons. Cannon Trattoria doesn’t have these opening staples; instead they used social media accounts and explain their new identity to Cork's loyal regulars only after the Belly Up! crews had departed. The said restaurant is expected to accompany the episode as it will have to wait until the episode actually runs and there are not dates where it will be launch as of today.
A restaurant makeover show often leaves the patrons of old restaurants confused or alienated. In the, only time can tell whether the move helps the restaurant to gain new customers and become profitable.
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