Deluxe Lounge
Deluxe Lounge will announce its opening on Pancho & Lefty's Facebook page. Open 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, the establishment is planning to add about 12 new employees, with four or five as full-time.
MONROE - Pancho & Lefty's has become a popular little Tex-Mex joint in downtown Monroe since it opened two years ago.
Now, owners Russ and Nadine Brown are looking to offer another popular place in town - something a little more off the beaten path and with a feel that's a little closer to the equator.
Deluxe Lounge, located just behind Pancho's at 1015 18th Ave. where Barrett's Brick Cafe was formerly located, will make its debut sometime in early October.
Russ Brown said the lounge will have a laid-back atmosphere and evening-only hours. It will also feature a huge Tiki pole and bamboo window treatments to help set the tone of an escape from the day's hectic pace.
"It's just for fun," he said. "It's a whole different world, a night place where you could be anywhere.
"Pancho's is for the hustle-bustle. Deluxe Lounge is to be laid back, take your time to have a drink, and listen to some mellow blues music," he added.
The new lounge concept comes from the Browns' years of world travel, individually and as the private chef and personal nanny to Hollywood stars Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner for about four years. Prior to those years, the Browns were the managers and caretakers of the couple's estate in Savannah, Ga.
When Garner and Affleck had their first child in 2002, Nadine and Russ were called to Los Angeles.
From Los Angeles to New York and abroad to the movie sets of the Hollywood stars, Russ and Nadine traveled with Affleck and Garner, taking care of all their needs, Russ said.
Where Garner went, baby Violet was sure to follow, according to Nadine, who at times had to protect the child from paparazzi and well-meaning fans.
"Jennifer is such a hands-on mom," she added.
Russ said he and Nadine often traveled ahead of the couple to set up house for them, wherever they were headed. He delivered their lunches to the set, and Nadine spent many days behind the sets, in and near the dressing rooms with Violet.
Russ recalled listening to Garner, as Roxanne, practicing lines with Kevin Kline in the lead role for the Broadway show of "Cyrano de Bergerac" in 2008.
"I'll tell you, being on the set - it's not glamorous," Russ said.
During their years in the shadows of Hollywood lights, the Browns spent all their holidays with Affleck and Garner and rarely took a day off.
"It was a lot of responsibility and a lot of work," Russ added.
Which is why, when Garner and Affleck's second child was born and the couple needed a live-in nanny, Russ and Nadine asked to be released from their positions.
"It was time to do something of our own," Nadine said. "We had talked since we were first married (more than 25 years ago) about starting our own restaurant."
"We love restaurants," Russ said. "I've loved restaurants my whole life. And we've critiqued a lot of restaurants in our travels - what we would change, how we would do it."
Having visited relatives in the Monroe area, and gaining a love for the countryside that reminds Nadine of their three years in Germany, the Browns located an empty store on Monroe's Square, the former Wolff's Office Supply.
"When we went in there, I thought, what are we doing? This isn't a restaurant, it's an office supply store," Nadine said.
But the view from the second floor took her breath away; it was exactly the image they were looking for.
Russ said the couple's intent for the new Deluxe Lounge is to wow customers by indulging their every delight, even if they want to wear flip-flop sandals.
"Deluxe is a retro word, in my mind," Russ said. "It means excellent quality, something of the highest quality. But it's also non-descriptive, so people don't get any preconceived notions.
"We're opening with some menu and drink ideas, and let's see where the customers take us," Russ added.
The lounge will feature a full-service bar and a menu that will be "heavy on the appetizers." Entrées will feature more moderate-sized servings of elegant dishes.
"Halibut, steaks and braised ribs are sure to be on the menu," Russ said.
Russ believes that, if a restaurant is good, people will find it.
"Some of the coolest places are in the middle of nowhere," he added, and Deluxe Lounge is prepared to follow the desires of its customers.
"Monroe is on its way up," Russ said. "People are talking about Monroe."
Now, owners Russ and Nadine Brown are looking to offer another popular place in town - something a little more off the beaten path and with a feel that's a little closer to the equator.
Deluxe Lounge, located just behind Pancho's at 1015 18th Ave. where Barrett's Brick Cafe was formerly located, will make its debut sometime in early October.
Russ Brown said the lounge will have a laid-back atmosphere and evening-only hours. It will also feature a huge Tiki pole and bamboo window treatments to help set the tone of an escape from the day's hectic pace.
"It's just for fun," he said. "It's a whole different world, a night place where you could be anywhere.
"Pancho's is for the hustle-bustle. Deluxe Lounge is to be laid back, take your time to have a drink, and listen to some mellow blues music," he added.
The new lounge concept comes from the Browns' years of world travel, individually and as the private chef and personal nanny to Hollywood stars Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner for about four years. Prior to those years, the Browns were the managers and caretakers of the couple's estate in Savannah, Ga.
When Garner and Affleck had their first child in 2002, Nadine and Russ were called to Los Angeles.
From Los Angeles to New York and abroad to the movie sets of the Hollywood stars, Russ and Nadine traveled with Affleck and Garner, taking care of all their needs, Russ said.
Where Garner went, baby Violet was sure to follow, according to Nadine, who at times had to protect the child from paparazzi and well-meaning fans.
"Jennifer is such a hands-on mom," she added.
Russ said he and Nadine often traveled ahead of the couple to set up house for them, wherever they were headed. He delivered their lunches to the set, and Nadine spent many days behind the sets, in and near the dressing rooms with Violet.
Russ recalled listening to Garner, as Roxanne, practicing lines with Kevin Kline in the lead role for the Broadway show of "Cyrano de Bergerac" in 2008.
"I'll tell you, being on the set - it's not glamorous," Russ said.
During their years in the shadows of Hollywood lights, the Browns spent all their holidays with Affleck and Garner and rarely took a day off.
"It was a lot of responsibility and a lot of work," Russ added.
Which is why, when Garner and Affleck's second child was born and the couple needed a live-in nanny, Russ and Nadine asked to be released from their positions.
"It was time to do something of our own," Nadine said. "We had talked since we were first married (more than 25 years ago) about starting our own restaurant."
"We love restaurants," Russ said. "I've loved restaurants my whole life. And we've critiqued a lot of restaurants in our travels - what we would change, how we would do it."
Having visited relatives in the Monroe area, and gaining a love for the countryside that reminds Nadine of their three years in Germany, the Browns located an empty store on Monroe's Square, the former Wolff's Office Supply.
"When we went in there, I thought, what are we doing? This isn't a restaurant, it's an office supply store," Nadine said.
But the view from the second floor took her breath away; it was exactly the image they were looking for.
Russ said the couple's intent for the new Deluxe Lounge is to wow customers by indulging their every delight, even if they want to wear flip-flop sandals.
"Deluxe is a retro word, in my mind," Russ said. "It means excellent quality, something of the highest quality. But it's also non-descriptive, so people don't get any preconceived notions.
"We're opening with some menu and drink ideas, and let's see where the customers take us," Russ added.
The lounge will feature a full-service bar and a menu that will be "heavy on the appetizers." Entrées will feature more moderate-sized servings of elegant dishes.
"Halibut, steaks and braised ribs are sure to be on the menu," Russ said.
Russ believes that, if a restaurant is good, people will find it.
"Some of the coolest places are in the middle of nowhere," he added, and Deluxe Lounge is prepared to follow the desires of its customers.
"Monroe is on its way up," Russ said. "People are talking about Monroe."