I'm with Zack Cranford of the Cranford Hospitality Group.

Zack, you've been a big player in the revitalization of downtown Hickory.

What do we've got here?

- Yeah, absolutely.

So we've got a mixed use hospitality project we've been working on for quite some time.

In the front we're gonna have a barbecue restaurant called Cranford Brothers with me and my brother doing it.

And then in the back we're gonna have a brewery and a distillery.

They're gonna be in separate spaces with a patio outside.

We're gonna produce spirits and beer on site.

It'd be really fun for the city of Hickory.

- Wow, so you're gonna have a distillery, a brewery, a barbecue restaurant.

All you need now is a steakhouse.

- Funny you say that.

Follow me this way.

Deb, welcome to the Charlais.

Glad to have you here.

- I love it, it's like a classic steakhouse.

Tell me more about it.

- Yeah, absolutely.

We've been here since 1969.

Been around a long time in the Hickory area.

What you'll find here is different than most steakhouses.

We cut the ribeye and strip tableside, so we'll bring a cart out.

[light music] We have a full salad bar.

We also have a very extensive wine list.

And we recently added at our remodel a brand new bar, sitting behind me here.

- Sounds fabulous.

So how did you get into the restaurant business?

- So I grew up in the restaurant business.

Kind of, you know, you don't have a choice.

You just kinda work in in the restaurant business.

And then it's an industry you either fall in love with or you hate, and I fell in love with it.

- And now you've been featured in "Garden and Gun Magazine" as one of the top 25 destinations in the South for a restaurant.

How does that feel?

- Yeah, it's such an honor for our team.

We've all worked hard to get to this point and it's really nice to kind of receive that recognition, and we've had folks come from all over.

So it's just an exciting time to kind of carry the legacy forward for the Charlais.

- Well, I'm excited for you and for Hickory, and can't wait to try out your restaurants.

- Thank you.

Look forward to having you back.

- [Both] Cheers.

- The Charlais Steakhouse is at 766 4th Street Southwest in Hickory, and they're open for dinner Monday through Thursday from 5:00 to 9:30, and Friday and Saturday from 4:30 to 10:00 PM.

For more information give them a call at [828] 328-4597, or go online to TheCharlais.com.