Despite challenges, this Grace Street block is growing with new chefs, restaurant and bar

Joe Apkarian said that people still sometimes ask if one of his businesses, Tacobaby restaurant, is still open.

They’re referring to an incident that took place March 7, where the brick facade collapsed above three businesses, including Rumcow and Kat 5 Kava, on the block between Second and Front streets.

“Within a week or so, we were all open again,” he said. “People just have that image of what happened, looking like an atomic bomb went off.”

Apkarian said he and other business owners have noticed a difference in the days since -- fewer passersby and a dip in business. Of course, the nearby construction projects, on the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge and Project Grace, are also likely disrupting traffic in the area, he said.

“But this is a great area,” he said, encouraging people to look beyond the facade. “And there’s a lot happening here.”

For one, a new pizza restaurant is coming to the block. The family behind Whiskey Tango Foxtrot bar is opening Dough House Pizza Co. in the former Clean Juice space at the corner of Grace and Front streets. It will serve square-style pizza made in a three-deck oven that will heat up to 932 degrees, said Joe Aperfine, one of the owners. It will also have an in-house bread program. Right now, they’re installing the signage and finalizing the permits and health inspections.

The same family has also taken over The Opera Room bar at 119 Grace St. The new business, Brass Tacks, is open, and the Aperfine family is updating it along the way. They’ve already added a frozen drink machine (which is serving blueberry and watermelon slushies with a kick) and have updated and re-tiled the bathrooms.

And at Tacobaby, Apkarian said he’s excited for what’s ahead at the restaurant. That includes a new chef and kitchen manager who is bringing authentic Mexican flavors to the menu. Marie Marine is from the area near Mexico City.

“There is a great food tradition there,” she said.

Already, her contributions are adding new depth to the dishes. Marine developed a menu for a special Cinco de Mayo brunch with two types of molletes (or open-faced sandwiches), avocado toastados, Al Pastor gorditas and authentic horchata. And Apkarian said they're planning more for the coming weeks and months.

And Rumcow restaurant at 121 Grace St. will be featured on an upcoming episode of America’s Best Restaurants. Nearby UnderFront also held a benefit concert on March 22 for the restaurant.

It isn’t always easy owning a business in an historic building, Apkarian said.

“Something is always popping up that needs to be fixed,” he said. He celebrates his third year at Tacobaby in June and appreciates the character that being in such a building brings.

“I wish there were more incentives to do the necessary updates," he said. "But we are super excited about what’s coming."

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Allison Ballard is the food and dining reporter at the StarNews. You can reach her at aballard@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Grace St., Wilmington is growing with new chefs, restaurant and bar