INDEPENDENCE, Ky. — Eric Diamon was skeptical when Kristi Poe suggested the restaurateur open a new eatery in Independence several years ago.
"At the time I thought it was an area where restaurants went to die," Diamon said.
Poe, who lives in Independence, disagreed. She watched the city grow and thought people were ready for a new place to dine in the area.
Diamon relented and in June 2017 he and Poe opened Crewitts Creek Kitchen & Bar at 2037 Centennial Blvd. in Independence. Diamon said he knew Poe was right the first night they tried to host a friends-and-family-only "soft opening" the Wednesday before the eatery's weekend grand opening.
"People just kept walking in," he said.
That evening made for a rough start for the new restaurant's staff, but they not only survived, Crewitts Creek has since thrived.
"We can't say enough good things about this great city," Diamon said. "Honestly, we just can't."
The Independence community continues to show its love of Crewitts Creek's fresh, scratch kitchen offerings after the restaurant started offering carryout only in March due to the coronavirus pandemic.
"We write a menu before we leave every night for the next day," said Diamon, who works at the restaurant full time.
Poe comes to the restaurant to help Diamon make that menu after she finishes her regular full-time day job working in the medical field.
"We really readjusted everything we do," Poe said of how she and Diamon currently operate Crewitts Creek.
The revolving menu Crewitts Creek offers is dependent on what ingredients are available, Poe said. Poe and Diamon were also forced to lay off the restaurant's entire front-of-house staff.
Diamon said on a busy night before Kentucky's ban on dine-in service, 12 people worked in the kitchen.
"Now we run it with about five," he said, including himself working the grill.
Diamon said one of the worst parts of the current situation for him is "I don't get to see guests anymore."
He will soon, though. Kentucky will begin relaxing some restrictions on dine-in service on Friday.
That is the day Diamon and Poe plan to open Crewitts Creek's 65-seat outdoor dining area. The restaurant owners have already increased the distance between tables up to six feet, will have hand sanitizing stations available and will make sure servers wear masks and other personal protective equipment.
Indoor dining will remain closed for the time being. Diamon said he wants to continue to offer takeout and said trying to open everything all at once could present issues with parking and curbside pickup.
Poe said when they do face that challenge it will be a good day and Crewitts Creek will be ready.
"We're just looking forward to getting back and going full steam," she said.
For the most up-to-date information about Crewitts Creek visit the restaurant's page on Facebook.
