“When you walk in 723 Trade Street, you will immediately know that it’s still wild, still funky and still Mary’s place. We encourage you to have a different restaurant experience. Bring a friend, have a conversation while you eat, take a moment to enjoy your food, make new friends, bring your sufficiently behaved children, absorb the atmosphere and relax.” Mary’s Gourmet Diner
Mary’s Gourmet Diner (MGD) is one of my favorite places. It’s an adorable restaurant across from Black Mountain Chocolate and serves organic breakfast/brunch/lunch items. It’s my boyfriend and I’s favorite Sunday fun day place. I love it because the people are so fun and quirky. The wait staff are some of the sweetest people I have ever met. We have talked about Sailor Moon (I tend to wear my cutesy anime Hot Topic dresses whenever I go), horoscopes, mild magic/natural remedies, to cool places to check out on dreary Sunday afternoons that remind me of what I imagine London is like. It’s one of the quirkiest places I have ever been to. I mean where else will you find a mannequin to eat with you outside?
MGD’s Patio. PC: Me.
Mary’s Gourmet Diner (also known as Breakfast Of Course) wasn’t always named that. It used to be known as Mary’s Of Course Cafe (MOC). In 2000 (MOC) opened a cafe in downtown Winston. Mary began a mission of good food with better and organic ingredients.
“We can’t begin to count the number of times Mary has been asked WHAT she put in the soup, eggs, grits, etc. Many people found it hard to believe she hadn’t rigged the food with some ‘special’ ingredient. Perhaps it was the LACK of strange ingredients that blows people’s minds and taste buds.” Mary’s Gourmet Diner
Mary’s Of Course Cafe. PC: Mary’s Of Course’s website.
In 2010, Mary’s Of Course closed their doors, but not without a super fun pajama brunch party!
Flyer For closing PJ Brunch. PC: MOC’s website.
About one week later their brand new location, that I have come to love and know, Breakfast Of Course/Mary’s Gourmet Diner opened in the heart of the Arts District.
Top Three is the Interior PC: @MarysGourmetDiner Bottom Three is the Exterior PC: Me
Not only did their location improve, but so did their website:
Left: Old website. Right: New website. I took a screenshot.
Their aesthetic really shaped itself once they focused on their branding. They still have plenty of zany themes and symbols; however, they seam it together flawlessly. I really dig their new name and logo. Especially how clean their website and new location look.
When reflecting on Mary’s communities, they really connect with the art community because they are located in the Arts district. They sell many local items from organic local farms to crocheted items from someone’s great-great grandma. They present a unified community of weird and I’m glad I can fit into their puzzle of quirkiness and glitter.
Various local items being sold. PC: @MarysGourmetDiner Instagram
In order to really get a grasp of Mary’s and how people of Winston relate to it, I asked an insider and an outsider a series of questions:
Outsider perspective: C. McCarthy
Q: What is the first thought that comes to mind when I say Mary’s Gourmet Diner?
A: Mary Babcock, because I live in Babcock.
Q: Why haven’t you been to MGD?
A: I haven’t heard of it — until today.
Q: Do you think you’ll be going anytime soon?
A: I don’t know, perhaps soon.
Q: If you could be a breakfast food, which would you be?
A: Chocolate Chip Pancake, because they’re good. I didn’t want to say bacon because then technically I would be a pig.
Q: What could persuade you to go to MGD?
A: More info about the location, prices, and the menu.
Q: What does the word community mean to you?
A: A group of people living in close proximity.
Insider Perspective: C. Thacker
Q: What is the first thought that comes to mind when I say Mary’s Gourmet Diner?
A: The uplifting people and environment.
Q: Why have you been to MGD?
A: The employees are kinder than those at other food establishments and the food is a few grades above other restaurants in terms of taste and presentation.
Q: When is the last time you have been?
A: Saturday, March 12th, 2016.
Q: If you could be a breakfast food, which would you be?
A: Bacon.
Q:What persuades you to go to MGD?
A: The powerful personalities that each employee possesses, the delicious food, and my girlfriend.
Q: What does the word community mean to you?
A: To sum it up in one word: cooperation.
When thinking about communities and MGD, I have to agree that cooperation is a huge part. MGD not only uses local organic foods from Winston (which then incorporates the makers around the area) they display local art, sell local crafts, and advertise most local events for free. You’ll see many grassroots organizations meet up at MGD to discuss what their next plan is or having a victory brunch.
This table is ready for YOUR victory brunch. PC:@MarysGourmetDiner IG
There’s also the vegan/vegetarian/organic community that frequents Mary’s due to the low volume of restaurants in Winston that are 100% fresh, local items that taste like heaven in an omelette. The artsy-fartsy community is also a huge community. Who wouldn’t want to eat in a place that has cute hello kitty decorations, fan-freakin-tastic paintings, and all kinds of kitschy decor that makes you feel like you just waltzed into a psychedelic pop art diner.
The LGBTQIA ( Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex and Asexual) community is supported by Mary’s. Below are pictures from various events they have put on in conjunction:
Top Left and Right: Mary with Drag Performers, Top Middle is Mary, Bottom Left is a flyer for the Drag Brunch, Bottom Middle is Mary, and Bottom Right is Pride Menu Brunch Specials. PC: @MarysGourmetDiner Instagram
Of course, a community profile about a restaurant wouldn’t be complete without pictures of food:
Food and Drinks. PC: @MarysGourmetDiner Instagram
Everyone should check out Breakfast Of Course/Mary’s Gourmet Diner and they’ll be happier than this pancake:
PC: @MarysGourmetDiner Instagram
Whimsy Snow 
I feel like since you have so many visual aids in this profile, something visual could work nicely. We can definitely try to do something like a slide show or a video to show all of the unique aspects of this restaurant.
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I like the video idea because it would give people a really feeling of this quirky little dinner
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I think a vide with upbeat music would be neat for this since you have a lot of pictures describing the food.
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I think this could be based around the colourful nature of the place. We could have people dressed in quite loud and expressive outfits acting out relationships or eating a meal and discussing LGBT issues or something like that.
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You have so many lovely pictures, so I think a slideshow would work well. You could have it playing in the background while you read the piece. You have a very upbeat and bubbly personality and I think that would be great in conjunction with the content.
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Yes, a slideshow of the pictures will definitely work well with this piece. I love Erica’s idea of adding upbeat music as well.
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I agree with some upbeat music to match your perky personality
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I would really like to see this one as a slideshow because it’s so colorful and pretty!!!!!!!!!
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This would be a great slideshow! The pictures are amazing.
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I feel like this would be a great presentation piece because of the pictures, and the story Mary’s has. I could see it as a video, or a spoken word even.
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A slideshow of all the different pictures you have would really make this place come alive!
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I feel like this could be an amazing slideshow, especially if we had a spoken piece that went along with it. All these pictures are absolutely fantastic, and the stories behind them deserve to be heard as well.
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I feel like a picture video with music that sets the mood with good with this blog.
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a video tour would be cool
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Because there are so many visuals I can see this being a short documentary or prezi photo album with little blurbs.
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