More retail shops and restaurants coming to downtown Winston-Salem

Elizabeth Burton had always thought about how great it would be for somebody to do something with all the stuff that people throw away.

"It really kind of upsets me how people can throw away so much stuff and it ends up in the ground," Burton said. "I don't think people realize that and what an impact it has not only on our environment but on our daily lives."

Last November, as she pondered a career change as a terminal manager at Beavex in Kernersville, she thought, "Wait a minute. Why don't I do something with that stuff?"

That's how Funky Monkeys, an eco-friendly home décor and accessories boutique, was born.

Funky Monkeys is one of several shops and restaurants that have opened recently or will open soon in downtown Winston-Salem, ranging from boutiques to a chocolate shop to a new restaurant from the owner of Downtown Thai & Sushi and Soup's Place.

Jason Thiel, the president of the Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership, is excited about the variety of venues coming to the downtown area to offer folks different choices.

"I think for success in downtown, a retailer has to have a distinct product that doesn't directly compete with large, big-box retail stores," Thiel said. "You really want something that is unique and is likely to be seen as a specialty shopping opportunity for someone."

Burton plans to open Funky Monkeys at 825 Burke St. on Monday. The shop is close to Barnhill's book and wine store.

Burton said she tries to offer items "in a funky kind of way so that people don't realize that it's been recycled or reclaimed materials."

For example, she has bags made from skirts and pants, and lamps made from wire mesh.

She makes some of the products such as handbags herself. She also carries globes made of recycled glass by John Kitras of Canada. Other items in the store include baskets made from vinyl records, vases, birdfeeders, soaps, soy wax candles and a variety of lamps, including effusion lamps. Prices range from $10 to $125.

Just down the street, a new chocolate shop called Haute Chocolate at 916 Burke St. opened Friday across from City Beverage.

Owner Jiliana Dulaney offers 30 flavors of truffles that she makes herself.

"I have a Green Curry truffle — just things like that that you wouldn't normally expect to find in chocolate," she said.

Some of her other creations are Crème Brulee, Caramelized Bosc Pear, Ceylon Cinnamon Chili, Green Tea, Dark Chocolate, Strawberry Balsamic, Smores and Chai Tea Latte. Prices range from $1.50 for an individual chocolate truffle to $28 for a box of 18.

She also plans to sell coffee, cakes and pastries in the shop.

Dulaney started making truffles in February 2009 after seeing a demonstration in Asheville.

"The man who was doing it was kind of explaining how chocolate was really difficult to work with, so I just kind of took that challenge and made my own recipe," Dulaney said.

At the time, she was working for a plumbing supply company in Winston-Salem and took some of her truffles to work for her co-workers to sample.

"Everyone in the office was like, 'These are amazing. You should go into business,'" she said.

Initially, most of Dulaney's sales have come from wineries and her website. She decided in December when business was so good that it was time to open a storefront.

Customers of Downtown Thai & Sushi and Soup's Place Vietnamese Pho & Grill, which are across the street from each other on Fourth Street, will soon see some changes.

Owner Souphab Daoheang will combine the menu at Soup's at 271 W. Fourth St. into Downtown Thai at 202 W. Fourth St. in One Park Vista, and Soup's will become the location for a Southern American restaurant by May 1.

"We have enough room in Downtown Thai to merge," Daoheang said. "All of our regular customers are not going to lose any selection. We're going to add more."

Daoheang said that he has not decided on a name for the upscale, new restaurant or its hours.

Prices will range from $8 to $14 for lunch and $10 to $22 for dinner.

Daoheang said he will offer chicken, fish and beef dishes, and will offer salads and more steamed, baked and grilled items rather than fried.

"It's going to focus on healthy eating," he said.

Other offerings will include premier burgers and gourmet breads.

He said he wants to establish a Southern American restaurant that provides flavor, spice, richness and quality.

Michele Sturtz opened Paz Boutique in January at 633 N. Trade St. in the former Let It Be Yoga boutique space, across from Finnegan's Wake. She shares space with The Yoga Gallery.

"I carry specialty brand activewear and outerwear for men and women," Sturtz said. "I also sell yoga props and accessories. It's a yoga-inspired boutique."

Other previously announced additions to downtown are Buena Pinta, Camino Bakery and District Rooftop Bar and Grille.

Buena Pinta is a Mexican restaurant that should open at 285 W. Fourth St. downtown this month. Camino Bakery, which will have a bakery and wine bar, is expected to move into the former Quiznos location at 310-B W. Fourth St. in the Nissen Building on June 1.

District Rooftop Bar and Grille should open at 770 Liberty View Court, just off Trade Street near Breakfast Of Course! Mary's Too in early summer. District Rooftop is a full-service restaurant that will have an adjacent but separate bar area, as well as a smaller bar and seating on the rooftop.

fdaniel@wsjournal.com

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