Where the Locals Eat
KITCHEN & DRINK
Where were you born? NC or other?
I was born and raised in Waynesville while my wife grew up in
Bethel. (Yes, we may have been high school rivals!) We now
proudly call Canton our home.
What made you go into the restaurant business?
When I worked at the Patio Bistro in Waynesville in 2006, I
realized that I wanted to one day be a restaurant owner. That
encouraged me to change my major at Western Carolina
University to Entrepreneurship, in hopes that one day, I would
own my own restaurant.
Do you own multiple restaurants?
No, just this one… but it has crossed our minds!
You have done so much in your career.
What’s been the best part so far?
The best part of Southern Porch is working with my wife
and having our girls here too. I have learned that
we can accomplish so much together.
What would you say is the most popular
food ordered at your restaurant?
Khairee’s Fish & Woodchips is easily one of the
most popular items ordered at Southern Porch.
Even our youngest daughter, Khairee, surprisingly
LOVED the dish so much and ate it nearly every
day, that we decided that it needed to be named
after her! Our Shrimp & Grits, Haunted Tips and
Bourbon BBQ Burgers are certainly among our
customer must-haves.
how you handled it?
We knew we wanted to open a restaurant, but
we knew we did not have the experience in the
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Michaela & Nathan Lowe – accomplishing more when they’re together