Docent’s Corner | The “Sonny’s Grill” Exhibit
Left: Rex Allen Deaton (1929-2018) Sonny’s Grill, Oil on Canvas. Right: Cynthia L. Glenn (1954-2015) Sonny, 1993 Ink on paper.
Upstairs in the Blowing Rock History Exhibit in the Stevens Gallery, there is an exhibit section dedicated to “Sonny’s Grill” that includes a constructed section of the counter, a stool, the old green screen door, a photograph of some patrons enjoying camaraderie and a meal at a front table, a portrait drawing of “Sonny” Klutz, and a painting of the front of Sonny’s Grill.
Why in the world would a business that isn’t even there anymore be celebrated in this way? Sonny’s life-long motto was “Make a new friend every day.” Whenever anyone entered the Grill and was greeted personally by Sonny leaning over the counter, that person knew that he or she was truly welcomed. All customers, no matter their station in life, felt that Sonny’s was their own special treasure. Some regulars came every day and met with friends for coffee, a hot meal, and conversation.
Elementary school children would come by after classes. Since some could pay and some couldn’t, Sonny set up a little box under the counter so that they could “run a tab”. Most times he could collect on their “tabs”, but sometimes he couldn’t. But it was important that the children not be embarrassed by their inability to keep up with their more affluent classmates. One regular local customer, author Jan Karon, used Sonny’s as her model for the Mitford Tales’ “Main Street Grill”, where much important communication in her idyllic village took place.
Orders were prepared as the orders were taken, no matter who you were. There is a story of one pushy “big-shot” NFL football player who thought he should be able to jump the line. Sonny muttered something about putting on his pants one leg at a time, just like everybody else, and made it clear that if the football player couldn’t wait his turn, he wouldn’t be served at all. Rudeness and incivility simply weren’t tolerated.
“Sonny” was Thomas Lee Klutz, Sr. (May 17, 1924 – February 4, 1999), a Blowing Rock native. The “Sunny”, (later “Sonny”), knick-name came from how his hair became sun-bleached from his time on the golf course as a young caddy and later player. He loved golf!
The small restaurant (about 20’ x 30”) was built sometime in the 1940s by Bower Williams and initially called “Williams’ Café”. Sonny had been working regularly as a housepainter and was a regular customer of the restaurant. Bower was plagued with ill-health. In 1954, Bower matter-of-factly told Sonny that he should take over the business, so he did. On December 13th, 1954, Sonny’s Grill opened its doors. Sonny never did manage to buy the real estate. There were promises made and promises not kept. Sonny ran Sonny’s Grill until his death in 1999, and then the family attempted to carry on the tradition until 2009. The property was sold in 2010, and the little concrete-block building was torn down. The site is now the outdoor dining area for the Six Pence Pub at 1121 Main Street.
So, why make this fuss? The commemoration in this exhibit is for a man whose memory (if we knew him) makes us all smile and for his creation of a place where all felt welcomed and included, - locals and newcomers, all mixed up together. Though the physical place is gone, the idea is worth celebrating! As Sonny said, “Make a new friend every day!”
This Docent’s Corner is brought to you by Sue Glenn
Sonny’s Grill stools, green door