By Ann Marie Byrd, Feature Writer
New Bern charm meets New York style at Baxter’s—the newest bar in town, featuring classic cocktails, tapas plates and most importantly, high-end musical entertainment, in what is perhaps the most opulent renovated space in downtown New Bern.
The Best is Yet to Come: The Dream
Owned by Von Lewis and Tyler Griffin, Baxter’s is the manifestation of a lifelong dream. The pair, who met while earning their Bachelors of Fine Arts degrees in Musical Theatre at Eastern Carolina University, are both professional musicians and performers.
Von began his career at resort theme parks, on cruise ships and traveling the country performing in regional theatre. He then began getting work in television and film, and subsequently landed the role of Bobby Rydell in the Academy Award-Winning Film the Green Book, Ray Price in I Saw the Light, and Billy the Kid in Legends & Lies. Von is also part of the beloved New Bern duo, Lewis ‘n Clark, with his wonderful wife, Abbey Clark. Abbey has opened for Livingston Taylor (James Taylor’s brother), as well as for Joe Nichols at Cape Fear Vineyard and Winery.
Tyler has been a director and music director on multiple cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean, Norwegian and Carnival, as well as working with Cedar Fair amusement parks. He plays piano professionally and has opened for Maroon Five, Jimmy Buffett, and Lionel Richie, has written the book Starving Artists Working Artists, and was the Interim Executive Director last year in the first phase of renovation for the New Bern Civic Theatre.
As the years went past and Von and Tyler gained experience and traveled the world performing, they had discussions about showbusiness, and imagined a future where they owned a bar together.
“We were always talking about business, and became obsessed with the business of show business, the mindset longevity, and what comes after the next contract,” says Von. “We wanted to have some legacy so we weren’t living out a suitcase for the rest of our lives, and conceptualized a music venue of some sort.”
“What we visualized certainly wasn’t as large as this current space,” says Tyler. “We talked about having a nice, fancy bourbon bar, not a music venue, with maybe a little stage in the corner—but this building spoke to us. Initially we weren’t even going to have a kitchen, but during the renovation, we decided it was best to do it now, so we built a kitchen, and then of course we needed a chef, and it just kept growing and growing from there.”
Playing Among the Stars: The Venue
The Baxter building, originally constructed in 1892, and known for its famous clock, and has enjoyed many iterations over the years before arriving at its gloriously refurbished destination today, under the guidance of designer Anne Albritton. The colors and textures in Baxter’s are luxurious and elegant, with rich woods, dark leather, plush jewel-toned velvet in turquoise, emerald green and blue sapphire, China red vintage-style wallpaper, ornate ceilings, period light fixtures and luxe trimmings. It is truly a sumptuous feast for the eyes.
And the decadence doesn’t end there. They’ve spared no expense to design the sound so that the entire room has the same, clear, balanced quality. Speakers are tuned specifically for the space to prevent unwanted reverb, so that the sound absorbs and dissipates flawlessly—engineered and designed by their dear friend, two-time Emmy Award winner Chuck Davis of D&G Entertainment. Chuck is also known for his design of no less than the Grand Ole Opry, Disney, Cedar Fair, and the CNN debates.
“We are bringing New Bern high-end entertainment, singers and standards, jazz, blues, singer-and-songwriters, cocktail piano, instrumentalists, and easy-listening—and on occasion some funk or 70s mix,” says Von. “We have many musical friends from the theatre world and the entertainment industry that travel in surrounding areas that will be coming to play here, with bigger shows on the weekends from out of town, playing a variety of styles. Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin were an inspiration for me and I always wanted a Copacabana kind of place like this, and now we have it. It’s been all hands on deck with friends and family helping us through 16 hour days, but we got it open.”
Tyler says that “opening Baxter’s has been like being shot out of a cannon. It’s been nose to the grindstone, doing all we could do in the hours that we had in a day. The silver lining has been a series of large miracles that have made this place happen, like finding funding, getting past covid, and hooking up with Bernard Purdie, the most recorded drummer in the world, as our in-house resident drummer. He and his wife Celia are our musical god-parents.”
Bernard Purdie and Friends will be playing March 29-April 1, and will include a special performance by harmonica player Rob Paparozzi.
Music will be playing from 6:00pm-9:00pm most nights, typically with three relaxed 45 minute sets or two full shows an evening that vary by performer. Sometimes music will be background entertainment, other nights foreground, both instrumentalists and vocalists. In March, jazz will also be on two Sundays from 6:00pm-9:00pm. Musical performances are updated daily on the Baxter’s website.
Fly Me to the Moon: The Libations and Culinary Creations
This juice joint is serving up some giggle water and it’s the cat’s pajamas!
The party is getting started by Bar Guru Alex Norris, who has created delightfully unique craft cocktails with equally playful names, designed to suit your particular mood:
• Start the evening with a Bruiser: Lillet Blanc, Blueberry Syrup, Crème de Violette,
Lavender Bitters, and Soda
• Relax with a Buttercup: Brown Butter-Washed Bourbon, Amaretto, Cherry & Vanilla
Bitters, and Orange
• Be Spontaneous with a Florida Man: Blanco Tequila, Mezcal, Aperol, Gran Marnier,
Orange, Lime, Matcha
• Feel Sultry with a Swashbuckler: Rum, Zaya, ruby Port, Basil, Banana, Brandied Cherry
• Finish the Evening with an Irish Goodbye: Tullemore Dew, Bailey’s Irish Cream,
Cream de Cacao, Whipped Crème de Honey, Shaved Chocolate
Chef Chris Maravelas has created the delicious tapas menu which includes: a seasonal salad, short ribs, chicken and waffle, barefoot eggroll, brie and pear skewers, tartine, zucchini fritters, seasonal desserts and a full brunch menu on Saturday and Sunday.
“So much of this has been serendipitous, our coming here to New Bern, finding this place,” says Tyler. “New Bern is so charming that people can’t help but flock here and enjoy it all. Our staff has created a great teamwork environment. Now we just have to make it grow while making it look entirely effortless.”
“Baxter’s is just what New Bern has needed,” says Von. “I believe we have the community support needed to keep it up. In combination with the efforts of the Kessler Group, Ashley Moser opening multiple restaurants, and a rapidly growing downtown, we have confidence we will be successful, even if we are a little ahead of the curve here. What we’ve created is a magical place.”
So, if music be the food of love, play on. Baxter’s is serving it.