God has taken his place in her, she will not be moved: he will come to her at the dawn of morning. Psalms 46:5
Few things make people more nostalgic than delicious food like Grandma used to make. City Food & Spirits in Marion is your go-to place for classic comfort food! Open seven days a week, they offer a wide variety of classic dishes from Calabash-style seafood to steaks with most popular items being The City Club, the Phillies, and of course, the fried chicken! Delicious specials are served daily and they even offer a full breakfast buffet! City Food & Spirits is family owned and operated and known for their quality service, leaving guests with a great overall dining experience. Joe Abram II is a silent partner with his son, Joe III, and daughter-in-law, Jean. Established in 2014, they are celebrating their fifth year in business.
In the past, Joe II worked at a few restaurants in New Jersey, then owned his own restaurant in Allendale, SC. The experience led him to become a “jack of all trades.” “I cooked for a living, but I also cooked for the pleasure,” he explains. Joe II is also a retired minister, though he continues to share the word with anyone who will walk slow enough. When his children approached him about opening a restaurant, he was overjoyed and excited to help! “When you see your kids doing what they love to do, you do whatever you can do to help,” explains Joe. “To see that they can have something they want, that’s my motivation!”
Jean is the cook at City Food & Spirits and creates the menu. She has been cooking since age twelve where she started out learning from her mom in the kitchen. She started working in restaurants in 1994 and loved the atmosphere. Today, her passion for the customers and the fast-paced atmosphere allows her to thrive. She describes her customers as “family” and always puts love into her food!
What makes City Food & Spirits stand out besides their fantastic food is their friendliness. Their goal is to always ensure that all the folks that come through their door enjoy a fantastic meal and are treated with warm hospitality. The restaurant is very family-oriented, as Jean and Joe’s children, Joseph (23) and Brittany (27), also help out in the restaurant. “I believe that customer service is the number one priority,” explains Jean. “We make sure everything is presented nicely and the food is good which will keep them coming back. As an African American and a business owner, we put God first. We try to always acknowledge Him and put Him first. We run our business on faith.” Joe II explains how they need every dollar to keep the business going, though the business is more than that. “When it comes to being just about the dollar you lose the interest of the business. It has to be something deeper than that. That’s what I’ve found in the businesses I’ve operated. When I go to other restaurants, I sit there and imagine that I own the place. All the people going through, it’s like a festive season. Everyone is smiling and you are the one that’s causing it. It’s a great feeling.”
Visit City Food & Spirits today for a delicious comfort food meal and guaranteed warm hospitality!
Open seven days a week, City Food & Spirits offer a wide variety of classic dishes from Calabash-style seafood to steaks with most popular items being The City Club, the Phillies, and of course, the fried chicken! Delicious specials are served daily and they even offer a full breakfast buffet!
CITY FOOD & SPIRITS | 1106 E Godbold St., Marion, @CityFoodSpirits | Open 7 days a week