It's About Thyme for a fish market and raw bar
By Ray Finefrock
Special to Culpeper Times
John Yarnell thinks it’s about time for a fresh fish market and raw bar in downtown Culpeper.
Yarnell, who opened the iconic European-themed “It’s About Thyme” restaurant at 128 E. Davis Street in 1995 and Thyme Market and three Thyme Suites at 134 E. Davis St. two-and-a-half years ago, is working with business partner Dave Young to remodel a space at 140 E. Davis. The new business will offer seafood selections, and more.
“The concept is to have fresh seafood in cases at the front and customers can pick out what they like and take it home to prepare themselves or have it cooked at Thyme Market next door,” said Young. “In the back we will have an upscale raw bar where customers can enjoy, for example, oysters and wine while the food is being cooked.”
The restaurant, to be known as “Captain Dave’s” is scheduled to open in April or May, according to Yarnell.
“We want the place to have a market feel working with Thyme Market to meet the needs of customers,” said Yarnell. “I see a scenario where a customer comes in to ‘Captain Dave’s’ and orders a bass. They say the last time they had it cooked in the wood oven and this time they want it cooked on a wood rotisserie. They wait in the back, shuck some oysters and enjoy a Sauvignon while it’s prepared. Then their cell phone rings and they find out some of their kids’ friends are staying for dinner so they also order a pizza from Thyme Market. We want the two to work together. There’ll be a lot of crossover.”
Yarnell also mentioned serving lobster in the courtyard outside Thyme Market where lunch guests now enjoy the lunches they ordered from the market.
“We’re looking for a reasonably upscale, fun atmosphere,” Yarnell said. “I have had a lot of comments from customers who have to go to Northern Virginia or someplace else out of the area to find something like this. We wanted to offer the experience locally.”
And, with the limited size of Thyme Market, Yarnell said, some current guest requests cannot be met.
“We want to have the ability to filet whole fish for them and to offer shellfish,” said Yarnell. “We will be able to offer suggestions as to how to prepare the dinner at home or we’ll do it. We’ll have flavored rubs available for the seafood and somebody on hand with recipes.”
For his part, Young, who previously worked in the defense industry, is excited about the new opportunity that awaits him and future customers of Captain Dave’s.
“I’ve been a customer of John’s for seven or eight years and have come to admire and respect what he does with food,” said Young. “We think this restaurant is just a natural expansion to what is already available in downtown Culpeper.
“This is also an opportunity for me to start a second career and to get into something I enjoy. It will be a way for folks to be able to enjoy good seafood and wine that they either prepare themselves or indulge themselves with someone doing it for them. We’re trying to fill a niche and make different things available locally.”
Yarnell said that his business partnership with Young also has some other ideas that will come to fruition in the months ahead.
“These businesses are not just about us,” said Yarnell. “We are working on some other projects that other downtown businesses should profit from as well. We’re working with the town and trying to get some grant money. We’re not in a hurry to just get the projects done. We want to get them done correctly.”
Info
It's About Thyme
128 East Davis Street
Culpeper, Virginia 22701
Owner: John Yarnell
It's About Thyme Restaurant (540) 825-4264
Thyme Market (540) 825-1011
Thyme Inn (540) 825-4264
Email: info@thymeinfo.com
Coming soon!
Captain Dave's
Featuring fresh seafood and a raw bar