Published in the News & Observer October 6th, 2006
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Mall fills cafe's old space

SAM LAGRONE, Staff Writer

More than a year ago, the well-known Cafe Piazza shut its doors on the first floor of Crabtree Valley Mall near the Hudson Belk department store. Known for its ample wine selection, quasi-outdoor seating and weekend singer who channeled Frank Sinatra, the cafe was one of the few locally owned restaurants in the mall. Now, after a few temporary tenants, Crabtree has leased the space to another homegrown operation. Pharaoh's^® plans to open its third location by Thanksgiving. The restaurant features deli sandwiches, hot dogs and hamburgers in its existing North Hills location and a location at the Progress Energy building downtown. The Crabtree location will be "the biggest one, the prettiest one," said co-owner George McNeill. "This is the the baby of our Pharaoh's^® franchise. It's going to be our flagship store." In addition to its regular menu, the Crabtree Pharaoh's^® will feature a small coffee shop in the 1,800-square-foot restaurant and a return of the storefront seating. The decorations will also be larger. McNeill promised a showy facade with a gold sarcophagus lit with spotlights and a newly designed logo. "It's really over the top," he said.