Owners: Natasha Stalnaker, Steven Langenscheidt and Dominick & Tammy Giorgianni
By Ann Marie Byrd, Feature Writer
The Old Pinnix, located just on the edge of historic downtown New Bern at 628 Hancock Street, is an airy and bright establishment with good vibes, specializing in “well-executed cocktails and gourmet toast.”
The inviting style of this new café, eatery, and bar feels historic in terms of the design and decor, but their creation of craft cocktails and the unique toasts are deliciously modern.
THE HISTORY:
Mr. William Maple Pinnix founded the Drug store in 1913. It began as a residential home on the current lot but was torn down in the 1930’s when Mr. Pinnix built the current building, running his local pharmacy out of the section where The Old Pinnix currently stands. Years later, he sold the pharmacy to his business partner and another employee under the condition that they maintain the Pinnix name.
In the early 1900’s The Pinnix was one of two locations in New Bern where citizens could check up-to-date sports scores, and people often enjoyed spending their lunchtime with a quick soda or sandwich at the pharmacy. Interestingly, The Pinnix was the first and only place in New Burn during this period that would extend store credit to women for medications and other necessities they may have needed.
THE DRINKS:
Natasha, of course, has been well-known in New Bern for many years as one of the very best bartenders around—for her spectacularly creative cocktails as well as her warm conversation and demeanor.
“When I first began bartending, I didn’t know how to mix drinks, but I found this big book, and I just started to experiment and figure it out,” says Natasha. “I would listen to what people liked, and what they didn’t like, and I studied the classic cocktails: the Manhattan, Old-Fashioned, Negroni. I read cocktail theory, played with flavor pairing, and experimented. I like to do things differently and in my own way. I enjoy making smoked drinks and cocktails that change color or use unique and fresh ingredients, like fresh herbs and flowers that change the flavors of the cocktail to make it a full experience. It has been an evolution. I learned long ago to open a dialogue with each person and find out what makes a great drink for them. Like do they enjoy salty or sweet? What kind of liquor do they prefer? I can craft the cocktail to your preferences.”
The Pinnix strives for the experience at the bar to be exciting, with new smells, tastes, and showmanship.
The cocktails at the Old Pinnix are unique and unpredictable. Even the old standards have a new twist, and the layers of flavors are truly remarkable. Here are some of the neighborhood favorites:
• Cherry Rosemary Old-fashioned • Minty Cherry Mojito • Coconut Spice Martini
• Cranberry Passion Sour • Orange Clove Tequila Sour
THE FOOD:
In regards to food at the Old Pinnix, the star of the show is the Gourmet Toast.
Let’s be clear: this is no ordinary toast. The selection of toppings seems endless, and is somewhat suited towards meals at different times of the day, like Sweet Morning toast with yogurt, fig jam, pomegranate and honey; or lunch Caprese toast with fresh mozzarella, avocado, tomatoes, basil, olive oil and balsamic; or dinner toast Tzatziki Chicken, black olives and siracha.
Like the drinks, there are neighborhood favorites. Here are the Top Five:
• The Pig and the Goat • Avocado • Proscuitto • Caprese • Getting Figgy With It
Customers begin by deciding which bread they prefer and then move on to their favorite ingredients. All of the toasts can be customized according to tastes or allergies. “What makes our toasts exceptional is the fresh ingredients and the healthy combinations. You can taste the difference in the quality,” says Natasha.
The idea for creating the toasts began with the resident foodie, Dominick, who is of Italian descent. As it turns out, toasts were commonly paired with drinks starting as early as the 1700s, so this “new” combination is a fabulous throwback. As the song goes, “Everything old is new again.”
CREATING THE PINNIX:
Envisioned and owned by a team of four, including Steven & Natasha and Dominick & Tammy, each partner brings a different kind of creativity to the business.
“The four of us all meshed together, advocating for different things, to become the Pinnix. We were all on vacation together in Punta Cana, and we started talking about what kind of business would complement what we already have in New Bern. It was just an organic, flowing conversation” says Natasha. “For me, this opportunity felt like coming back home. There were variables I could control and there was never any question that we were doing the right thing.”
Although the group considered moving into Downtown New Bern proper, when they first came to the Old Pinnix, the warm energy of the neighborhood and the history of the building as a gathering place drew them in, and held them there. The Historical Society shared an article from 1914 that noted that the Old Pinnix was one of two places to check baseball scores, so people would gather there on lunch breaks from the sewing factory, and kids would come with their parents to get the best vanilla Pepsi in town.
“People have a connection to this place, but there hasn’t been a business here since 1993. It’s been many things over the years, including a drug store, but now it has life again. The most important thing we have received is love from the community, and they’ve been supportive and generous.”