Southern Hospitality
By Chris Wadsworth
We all know Murphy’s Law – anything that can go wrong, will go wrong. That’s how Reese Gardner sometimes felt when he was opening his latest restaurant in Ashburn – Juleps Kentucky Tavern.
“I picked out a green which I thought was perfect,” said Gardner, talking about the vision meant to evoke the rolling green hills of the Bluegrass State. “My son and I were going out of town for a few days. When we got back, the contractor had finished [painting] the entire place and it looked like a disaster. The green was so bright. It was awful. I had to laugh it off and repaint the entire place.”
Juleps Kentucky Tavern opened in January in the Loudoun Station development off Shellhorn Road. It’s the latest establishment from Gardner, who previously operated the Copperwood Tavern at One Loudoun. Over the years, the serial restaurateur has developed a fondness for taverns. He also owns and operates two others – Nettie’s in Arlington and Olde Dominion in Haymarket.
“Taverns create a gathering place where everyone in the community can come together,” he said. “Whether you’re with your kids, neighbors, or just need that alone time with your favorite barstool.”
As you might infer from the name, Juleps leans into all things southern. The menu includes fried chicken, fried green tomatoes, pulled pork BBQ, and shrimp and grits – just to name a smattering of the extensive offerings.
“Southern food or Appalachian food has always been about comfort, generosity and gathering – and those things never really go out of style,” Gardner explained. “That timelessness is what drew me to it.”
Over at the bar, you’ll find a Whiskey Sour, an Old Fashioned, and – of course – a Mint Julep.
“We focus on bourbon and whiskey, fresh citrus, herbs and subtle sweetness rather than anything overly syrupy,” Gardner said. “Ingredients like mint, honey, stone fruit and bitters show up a lot.”
Gardner is confident his new tavern will find success at its spot near the Ashburn Metro stop. He has a slew of other restaurants around him – faith that a rising tide floats all boats – including Señor Tequilas, Famous Toastery and the upcoming Curry Pizza House. And he wants to be part of the momentum as the center grows.
In the meantime, now that the “too green” paint crisis is in the past, he already has his eyes set on his next project at Juleps – something that he didn’t have the budget for before opening, but expects to soon.
“Our bathroom sinks. I hate them,” he said. “Someday soon … I will get those things out of there.”