Chef Scott Crawford and developer John Holmes have formed Nash Square Hospitality Group and are in the process of opening two new restaurants in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina.  The first to open will be Standard Foods, a 5500 square foot restaurant and specialty grocery concept in the Person Street Plaza on East Franklin St. in the city’s downtown area. Expected to open in early Fall, the full service restaurant will feature Southern cuisine menu and a 20-seat bar serving  North Carolina beers, cocktails and wine by the glass. The grocery store component will feature a large selection of local produce, meats, seafoods, etc. and a prepared food section. The second restaurant concept is the Nash Tavern, a casual American-style restaurant featuring a tasting menu, shared plates and sides along with craft beers and a large wine list. The flagship Nash Tavern will open at the Nash Square, also in Raleigh’s downtown, in 2015. Crawford was previously the Executive Chef/Director of Food and Beverage with the upscale Umstead Hotel & Spa in Cary, North Carolina. Holmes is the President of the Hobby Properties Inc. development company that owns Person Street Plaza.

Nash Square Hospitality Group, c/o Hobby Properties Inc., 4312 Lead Mine Rd., Raleigh, North Carolina 27601 (919/783-6141)