LM Restaurants News

LM Restaurants Ranks #22 in Triangle Business Journal's Fast 50

29-Nov-2011

Raleigh, NC – “Opa!” rang from the crowd as Lou Moshakos, Owner and President, accepted his seventh Fast 50 award in eight years at the Triangle Business Journal’s Fast 50 Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, November 15th. The Raleigh-based hospitality group earned the 22nd spot on the annual list of the 50 Fastest Growing Private Companies in the Triangle.

 LM Restaurants was established by Lou & Joy Moshakos in 1978.  The family-owned company now employs 1,950 people in the Triangle and is poised to open at least three more restaurants in 2012, creating approximately 450 additional jobs. The Moshakos’ mantra of “Service is King” and the steady growth and popularity of their sports-themed concept, Carolina Ale House, helped them place on the distinguished list.

 “We are proud to be honored among the top Fastest Growing Private Companies in the Triangle again this year,” stated Joy Moshakos, Vice President of LM Restaurants. We couldn't have done it without the commitment of our employees.  Their dedication to our philosophy of excellence really made a difference. 

Bluewater’s 2011 Waterfront Music Series Schedule Announced
      Bluewater Waterfront Grill prepares for its 3^rd annual Harbor Bash

13-Apr-2011

Wrightsville Beach, NC – Sunday, April 17th, Bluewater Waterfront Grill will host its Waterfront Music Series with a rockin’ line up for its 3rd annual Harbor Bash event. 

 Every Sunday afternoon through Oct. 30^th, Bluewater will continue to host local live music. Come by land or by sea for free, high energy entertainment on Bluewater’s covered outdoor patio.

Click Here for Bluewater Waterfront Music Series Schedule (Sundays, Rain or Shine, beginning at 4pm)

Carolina Ale House Exceeds Fundraising Goal

$23,000 donated to Carolina Hurricanes’ Kids ‘N Community Foundation

6-Apr-2011

Raleigh , NC –  On April 6^th, Lou & Joy Moshakos, owners of locally owned and operated LM Restaurants, Inc., presented Doug Warf, Executive Director of the Kids ‘N Community Foundation (KNCF), with a check for $23,000.  The total came from the combined efforts of two fundraising initiatives:  Points for Kids & Heart of the Hurricanes.  The donation is $7,000 more than the company raised during the 2009-2010 hockey season.

As part of their partnership in Points for Kids, Carolina Ale House donates $100 to KNCF for every point the Canes earn in the standings.  The Canes’ awesome run at the end of this season motivated LM Restaurants to round their total giving up to $10,000. 

In addition to Points for Kids, Carolina Ale House also sells KNCF branded paper hearts and car magnets every February during their in-restaurant Heart of the Hurricanes campaign.  This year the eight NC-based locations raised $13,000, which was more than double their total in 2010.

“We are thrilled that Carolina Ale House managers, staff and guests got so behind our Heart of the Hurricanes program,” Warf commented about the restaurants’ initiative.  “The fundraiser not only raised much needed money for our grant giving, but also helped raised awareness of the Foundation in the Triangle, Wilmington and Fayetteville areas.”

 Moshakos added, “We are HUGE fans of the ‘Canes and their Foundation.  We appreciate the local youth programs KNCF supports.  We look forward to an even bigger donation next year!”

 KNCF is a youth-focused organization that works to provide organizational and financial assistance to area youth programs.  Carolina Ale House has raised over $63,000 to the Foundation since 2007.

Carolina Ale House, established in 1999, plans expand community partnerships like that with the Kids ‘N Community Foundation, as it’s slated to open three more North Carolina locations by 2012 (Greenville, Jacksonville & Charlotte.)  They currently operate 15 locations; six locations in the Triangle, locations in Wilmington and Fayetteville, NC, a small outlet in Terminal 2 of RDU International Airport, three locations South Carolina, one in Georgia and two in South Florida. 

Food graciously donated by

Bluewater’s 2010 Waterfront Music Series Performance Schedule Announced
Sundays at Bluewater Waterfront Grill will kick off with 2nd annual Harbor Bash
31-Mar-2010

Wrightsville Beach, NC – Sunday, April 18th, Bluewater Waterfront Grill will kick off its Waterfront Music Series with a rockin’ line up for its second annual Harbor Bash event. Harbor Bash will feature JAH Creation (12 noon – 3pm) and Bibis Ellison & The Spare Change Band (4 – 8pm), as well as delicious food specials and, of course, the best view on the Intracoastal.

The following Sunday, and every Sunday afternoon there after through Oct. 31st, Bluewater will continue to host local live music. Come by land or by sea for 29 weeks of free, high energy entertainment on Bluewater’s renovated outdoor patio, which was voted “Best Outdoor Seating” this year by Encore readers.

Click here for the Bluewater Waterfront Music Series Schedule
Sundays, Rain or Shine, beginning at 4pm

Local Restaurant to Let Cape Fear Community College Take Over Their Kitchen
Bluewater to host benefit for local hospitality students
23-Mar-2010

Wrightsville Beach, NC – Bluewater is challenging hospitality management students at Cape Fear Community College (CFCC) to coordinate a full scale sit down fundraising event on location that will include a three course meal, live entertainment and a silent auction. The reward for their efforts? A generous donation towards educational scholarships to help with travel costs to an annual food show.

Bluewater’s inaugural Foodraiser will benefit both the CFCC Pineapple Guild and the NC Hospitality Educational Fund (NC HEF). The Pineapple Guild is a student club for CFCC hotel-restaurant and culinary students. 75% of the event proceeds will help fund club members’ annual trip to the National Restaurant Association Expo in Chicago. The remaining 25% of the proceeds will go to NC HEF, designated for scholarships to assist individuals in pursuing educational programs in hospitality and tourism. Tickets for the unique 3-course sit down dinner event go on sale Tuesday, March 23.

Who: Open to the public

What: Foodraiser put on by local CFCC students to benefit local CFCC students

Where: Bluewater, 4 Marina Street, Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480

When: Wednesday, April 14, seatings at 7 and 7:30pm

How: Click here to purchase tickets or call Bluewater at 910.256.8500.

Tickets are $35 per person and includes dinner, one complimentary glass of wine, light hors d’oeuvres in the Captain’s Lounge, live entertainment and a silent auction.

Carolina Ale House raised $6,002.90 for Kid's 'N Community during February 2010!
9-Mar-2010

February 2010 marked the third year that Carolina Ale House participated in the paper hearts campaign. All North Carolina locations offered “Heart of the Hurricanes” paper hearts for $1 and magnetic hearts for $3. All proceeds from the sales of paper and magnetic hearts benefited the Kids 'N Community Foundation.

Carolina Ale House Opens in Fayetteville
LM Restaurants opens its 13th sports-themed restaurant in the South East
4-Mar-2010

Fayetteville, NC – Carolina Ale House will open in Fayetteville TODAY at 161 Glensford Drive in front of Barnes & Noble at Cross Creek Mall. The family-friendly, sports-themed restaurant will be open 11am – 2am daily. Carolina Ale House is locally owned and operated by Raleigh-based hospitality management company, LM Restaurants.

The Fayetteville location will be the 13th Carolina Ale House to open in the concept’s 11 year history. “We are fortunate to experience this kind of growth during these economic times,” said president and owner of LM Restaurants, Lou Moshakos. LM Restaurants named the twelfth fastest growing company in the Triangle by Triangle Business Journal in 2009. “We are excited to bring the Carolina Ale House concept to Fayetteville. We are confident it will be a great fit in this wonderful, close-knit community.”

LM Restaurants Expects to Raise Over $5,000 Towards Hunger Relief in Haiti - 10% of supper sales on Feb. 6th will be donated to the UN World Food Programme
1-Feb-2010

Visit out Supper Bowl page for details!

LM Restaurant Group Decides to Change Direction in Cary
25-Jan-2010

Cary, NC – Lou Moshakos, President and owner of LM Restaurants (LMR) of Raleigh, recently opened his twelfth Carolina Ale House (Wilmington, NC) and is on track to open four more South East locations in 2010. Subsequently, he has decided to close the doors to Bentley’s at Crossroads. Moshakos explained, “The restaurant was not performing up to expectations. Due to the expansion of the Carolina Ale House and time spent on our other brands in Wilmington, we feel like this is the right move for now.”

Further details about a potential replacement concept are not available at this time. Until then, LMR will maintain the property located in Cary’s Crossroads Plaza. Guests with reservations at Bentley’s who’s information is on file will be contacted and given the opportunity transfer their reservations to Taverna Agora, LMR’s Greek restaurant. Others can call the corporate office at 919-851-0858 for more information.

LM Restaurants (LMR) was recently named the 11th fastest growing private company in the Triangle by the Triangle Business Journal. LMR continues to expand its Carolina Ale House brand with plans to open locations in Fayetteville, NC on Feb. 21st, Augusta, GA & Greenville, SC this summer and a rooftop location on Glenwood South in late fall.

LM Restaurants is the parent company of several award-winning restaurants on the east coast (www.lmrest.com). Carolina Ale House, est. in 1999, boasts twelve locations (six locations in the Triangle, a NEW location in Wilmington, NC, a small outlet in Terminal 2 of RDU International Airport, two locations South Carolina and two in South Florida.) Taverna Agora (Raleigh) is an authentic Greek restaurant and bar. Oceanic (on Wrightsville Beach) offers fresh seafood and panoramic beachfront dining; Eddie Romanelli’s (Wilmington and Leland) offers American Italian cuisine. Henry’s (Wilmington) is a casual American restaurant and Bluewater (Wrightsville Beach) is a picturesque waterfront grill situated on the Intracoastal Waterway. In addition to its restaurants, LM Restaurants also manages AQ Catering & Events (Wilmington, NC.)

Carolina Ale House Continues to Expand - Fayetteville Here We Come!
8-Sep-2009

Raleigh, NC - LM Restaurants, Inc. owner and President, Lou Moshakos has confirmed he is expanding the Carolina Ale House concept to Fayetteville, NC. The restaurant will occupy what was Tony Roma’s, located at 161 Glensford Drive. Construction is to begin within weeks and the store is slated to open in mid-December.

The Fayetteville location will be the second Carolina Ale House to open before the end of this year. A site in Wilmington, NC is currently under construction and scheduled to open this November. Architect Frank Smith of SMITH2Design in Wilmington has been hired to design the Carolina Ale Houses in Fayetteville and Wilmington. Smith also worked on Bluewater, LM’s two-story waterfront grill on the Intracoastal Waterway in Wrightsville Beach, NC.

Henry’s Chef Jason Ivady to Appear on WECT’s Carolina in the Morning
27-Jul-2009

Jason Ivady, Henry’s Restaurant executive chef and general manager, will appear Thursday, August 13th at 5:50am on WECT’s “Carolina in the Morning” television program with Bob Townsend. This is the first of a series of cooking segments that Chef Jason will be doing on the NBC affiliate’s #1 rated morning show.

The first episode features a demonstration of how to prepare the delicious Watermelon and Feta Summer Salad from the repertoire of Chef Jason. Podcasts of this appearance and the recipe for this seasonal specialty will be available beginning August 14th on www.wect.com and www.henrysrestaurant.com.

Located at 2508 Independence Blvd. in Barclay Commons, Henry’s is a casual American restaurant in the heart of Wilmington. Featuring Chef Jason’s daily blackboard specials, Henry’s offers a wide selection of lunch and dinner selections in an elegant Craftsman-style atmosphere. Outdoor patio dining is available and the private Pine Room accommodates business and social functions for up to 30 people. A local favorite, Henry’s is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2009.

LM Restaurants Announces 4th Quarter Growth Plans
22-Jun-2009

Wilmington, NC – LM Restaurants, Inc. owner and president, Lou Moshakos, confirmed this weekend he has finally found real estate in Wilmington, NC for the 14th Carolina Ale House location. Carolina Ale House is LM Restaurants’ core brand and is a family-friendly, sports-themed high energy restaurant.

“It took over five years to find the perfect location to launch the Carolina Ale House brand in Wilmington,” Moshakos explained, “but it was worth the wait.”

Renovation plans are already underway to transform Boater’s World located at 317 S. College Road to the new Carolina Ale House. Architect Frank Smith of SMITH2Design in Wilmington has been hired to design the changes. Smith recently completed the waterfront bar renovation at Bluewater, LM Restaurants’ location in Wrightsville Beach. Bluewater’s expanded outdoor patio and bar now accommodates more guests and provides enhanced customer service for locals and tourists alike. With the launch of Bluewater’s summertime menu and the addition of new parking spaces, Bluewater has transformed into ‘the’ place to gather with family and friends on the Intracoastal Waterway.