Jenna Garrison was working in Raleigh when she got a call from her brother saying she needed to move back to the area. At the time, she was managing a restaurant and working as a nanny for a family.
“Holden called me and said, ‘You need to move home, were going to do something really big,’†Jenna said.
For Jenna, 20, and Holden, 24, the something really big is owning a bar.
“When I say dream, I don’t really mean metaphorically,†Jenna said. “It feels like not real. I didn’t imagine it would happen this early in my life. It’s been like whiplash.â€
Jenna Garrison stands behind the bar at Inferno Tavern. Garrison said she wants the bar to be “upscale, but welcoming.â€
The Garrisons purchased the former Tudor House in August. Since then, they have worked with other family members, including their brother Bronson Garrison and mother Porsche Garrison, on making the space into the bar they wanted.
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“I want it to feel upscale, but welcoming,†Jenna said. “There’s no dress code. It feels nice, but it’s not white tablecloth.â€
Jenna said the Hickory area lacks places for people to get dinner and entertainment under one roof.
“There’s not a lot to do after dinner here,†Jenna said, “so we thought let’s do dinner and let’s do after here in one place.â€
Jenna Garrison said the more than 5,000 square foot space is divided into three sections. There’s a large area with a bar and tables that greets customers as they enter the building. Off to the right, a separate room is furnished with leather couches and lounge chairs for an intimate bourbon bar. A third section will have pool tables and a jukebox.
The bourbon room at Inferno Tavern has lounge chairs and leather couches for customers to relax and socialize while sipping drinks.
Inferno Tavern will serve wings, pizzas, salads and other entrees. The restaurant and bar will also serve beer and have a full bar.
Garrison is also excited about the space the outdoor patio offers. She said Inferno Tavern will offer live music outside. She already has a few bands booked.
“Growing up in a small town, going to a bigger area and seeing what the going out scene looked like, we were like, ‘This is really cool industry,’†Garrison said. “We liked that it (the service industry) was social and creative.
“The feeling of feeding people, and giving people drinks and making people happy, it’s just a great feeling and it’s a great business to be in.â€
Jenna Garrison, left, and her mother, Porsche Garrison, stand behind the bar in Inferno Tavern’s bourbon room.
Inferno Tavern is located at 2289 St Pauls Church Road in Newton.
Garrison said she hopes to open the bar May 3.
For more information about Inferno Tavern, visit the bar’s Instagram page, .
