Sep 1

Sep 1 Jay's 108 hoping to open in September

Photo and illustration by Jose Perez / Neuse News

In July, Jay’s Restaurant Group announced the opening of their new location in downtown Kinston. Nestled between Gordon and North Street, at the former location of the Boiler Room, Jay Shin hopes to appeal to the out of town visitors to downtown Kinston, as well as the locals who call the city home.

“Before I heard about a lot of out of town people coming to the restaurants in Kinston,” said Shin. “I want more Kinston people to enjoy the restaurant and come here with their family.”

Jay Shin laughs with a colleague inside the renovations at Jay’s 108. Jose Perez / Neuse News

The COVID pandemic closed all restaurants in North Carolina until Governor Cooper’s executive order reopened them. Shin had the opportunity to research Kinston as a prospective new location in the past, but the timing was not right. Now, even with the pandemic, he is closer than ever to an opening in Kinston.

“I’m trying to open in one more month,” said Shin. He provided a tour of the inside of the new restaurant to share the changes he has made.

Shin envisions an outdoor dining experience. He would like seating to line the walkway between the two streets that lead to the entrance of the restaurant. He describes shaded outdoor seating with music for the guests who prefer an outside dining experience.

“Stephen Hill, of Mother Earth Brewing, reached out to talk about the location,” said Shin. “It’s a prime location downtown.”

He would like to hire 15-20 people from the area to open his restaurant. He is also looking at seating to increase the capacity to allow for more families to come together downtown.

“I want to attract the young people so that more people can enjoy eating downtown,” said Shin.

The new restaurant in Kinston will join those in Jay’s Restaurant Group, including restaurants in Goldsboro, Greenville, and Mt. Olive.