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Stafford eatery haunted by building's past

July 15, 2004 1:11 am

Police say bar brawls, beer and public urination fests led to many arrests in the parking lot of a former nightclub in southern Stafford County.

Although the business and its police calls are long gone, the owners of a new restaurant there say the site's old reputation lingers.

"It seemed like a nice place, but we didn't know the background," said retired NBA player Kurt Jones, who operates Spices Restaurant there with his wife, Leela. "We started to get afraid after hearing about the location's past."

The new Caribbean eatery is located inside the Howard Johnson on U.S. 17. It is the former home of the Black Swan Lounge--a club known as well for brawls as it was for live music.

"We have had issues in that location with the previous management and owners about the type of activity going on there, namely fights, drunk driving and excessive use of alcohol," Stafford County Sheriff Charles Jett said. "That history can follow an establishment regardless of who the new owners are."

Leela Jones, 32, dreamed of running her own restaurant. Everyone in her Trinidadian family could cook, so it was only natural to turn her hobby into a business.

She and her two sisters started a small catering company in Maryland in 1999 that did well serving curry chicken, oxtail soup and other Caribbean dishes.

In 2001, the former model and private investigator married Kurt Jones, 36, a retired NBA player. She is the 2002 Ms. Trinidad & Tobago. He was a guard for the Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks, and he played overseas.

The couple moved to Culpeper in January and decided to fulfill Leela's dream.

Kurt said they had hoped to land a spot in Central Park, but couldn't afford the rent.

When they visited their current site, they fell in love with it. It is next to the interstate and the price was right.

It seemed perfect. But they had no idea of its history.

Prior to opening, the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Board placed several restrictions on Spices based solely on past happenings at the Black Swan.

There could be no live entertainment, no happy hour, no dancing, no cover charge and the restaurant was not allowed to stay open past midnight.

"As a result, we can't compete with other businesses in the area," Leela Jones said.

Spices sometimes pulls in just $88 a day. But the Joneses say they need at least $1,000 daily to cover monthly expenses.

The restrictions have since been eased, but could go back into effect if any incident occurs there.

Special Agent Robert Owens of the ABC Board said placing restrictions on a new business doesn't happen often. But in this case, it was requested by the Stafford County Sheriff's Office.

"It's only common when there is a history with a particular owner or location," Owens said.

The owners of the Black Swan could not be reached for comment.

Brian Baker of the Rappahannock Region Small Business Development Center said Spices' first step should have been a demographics study.

"Anyone that establishes a new business should do some research to ensure the location has value and certainly a reputation that is positive," Baker said.

Kurt Jones said he ignored the warnings he heard about the Black Swan because he was starting a different type of business.

"People are thinking it's the same type of place that it was, but it's not," he said.

Both he and his wife quit their full-time jobs to run the restaurant.

Their day begins with a 45-minute commute from Culpeper at 5 a.m., and ends after they close at 10 p.m. They sleep there four days a week just to keep up, Leela Jones said.

"I am the owner, cook, sometimes the waitress," she said. "By the end of the day, I'm burned out."

Employees at the Howard Johnson said the Joneses have been good--and quiet--neighbors.

"They're both working hard, and the food is good," said employee Danny Patel. "All that rowdy noise is gone now."

But customer turnout is still low, and the Joneses think they may have to sell the business.

Kurt Jones, who was cut by the Milwaukee Bucks three times before he was finally signed to a basketball contract, is not one to give up easily.

"We're still hoping things turn around," he said. "We just want the community to support us and give Spices the opportunity to survive."

The Joneses have tried to create a different atmosphere.

They offer a menu unique to the area, spent $230,000 in building renovations and are targeting a mature crowd.

According to the Virginia Hospitality and Travel Association, marketing is the key to putting a new face on an old establishment.

"You can't just open up an ethnic restaurant and expect that because it's unusual, people will come," said Danny Mitchell, the association's executive vice president.

He suggests new independent owners offer their restaurant as a meeting place for community organizations, explore getting their business on a billboard or sign on the highway and make sure they have enough money for emergencies.

"Most restaurants survive less than five years if not franchised," he said. "That's because they undercapitalize and don't have enough money for the unexpected slumps."

The Joneses had a strong financial base, but weren't prepared for the unexpected.

Leela Jones' mother suffered a massive heart attack and needed emergency surgery two months before the restaurant was scheduled to open. She died two days later.

The Joneses had to dip into their restaurant savings to pay for the surgery and funeral arrangements in Trinidad.

"That was a huge setback," Leela Jones said.

Contracts and leases for the restaurant were already signed, and they were forced to open regardless of their situation.

They held a grand opening April 22 with a live radio broadcast and a guest appearance by local celebrity Anthony Campbell.

But they've struggled since then.

Spices has tried to lure more customers by booking reggae bands and showing Bollywood--Indian--movies to go with the Caribbean theme.

They would like to add celebrity appearances.

Kurt Jones said he keeps in contact with NBA buddies like Kevin Garnett and Chris Webber. And Leela Jones said she is friends with Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth of the TV show "The Apprentice." They met while Leela Jones was a contestant in the Ms. World pageant.

"We have an all-star lineup just waiting to roll, but we have to get customers in here first," Kurt Jones said.

To reach PORTSIA SMITH: 540/374-5419 psmith@freelancestar.com