Raines on Main Bar & Grill to Bring Arnold's Food Downtown

A new restaurant is coming to downtown, with the promise of familiar food with a downtown twist.Jeff Raines, left, and Gary Durkee are the driving force behind Anderson' newest downtown restaurant.

“Raines on Main Bar & Grill,” currently set to open in early October, will bring the menu of “Arnold’s Famous Hamburgers (and more)” as well as a full bar to 312 South Main, the building which housed the Fox, the English Pub that closed in 2014. 

The new venture is a partnership between a pair of men who are no strangers to serving food in Anderson. 

Jeff Raines, who ran Maui Bar & Grill on North Main Street, and Gary Durkee, a partner in the current Arnold’s restaurants in Anderson, Belton and Powdersville, believe their collective experience will bring a welcome additional downtown. 

“It will be a sports bar with upper-class atmosphere, with a middle-class price.” Raines said. “Our focus will be on service.”

The restaurant, which will be open Tuesday-Saturday from 11 a.m.-11 p.m., will feature projection screens and eight other television screens for sporting events, as well as two Diamond Pool tables and a small area for sports bar video games.  

Raines on Main will be a non-smoking establishment, with seating for 76 at the 16 tables, plus 20 seats at the bar, and outside seating when the weather is nice. Plans are also to offer delivery to downtown locations. 

A downtown room, which can accommodate up to 25 people, will also be made avaible for advance bookings.Raines on Main Bar & Grill is scheduled to open in early October at 321, South Main, the site of the former Fox English Pub.

Raines on Main's menu will feature all the burgers that made Arnold’s famous, along with Arnold’s new offerings in all locations which include salmon, steaks and smothered chicken. 

“Arnold’s locations don’t serve alcohol, and never will, but there are a lot people who would like to enjoy the things on Arnold’s menu and enjoy a drink,” said Durkee, whose experience also includes more than 17 years in management at Outback Steakhouse.

In addition, Raines on Main will also offer specialty burgers, fish & chips and wings. Sides will include: baked potatoes, fries, sweet potato fries, fried okra, fries, fresh green beans and steamed broccoli. 

“Everything on our menu, will be under $10,” Durkee said. “Our goal is to serve quality food at affordable prices. It will be a small menu that we can execute properly, quickly, and consistently.”

The new restaurant is expected to employee 15-20, with an estimated annual payroll of $250,000. Applications will be available soon at the upcoming Raines on Main Bar & Grill Facebook page.

Durkee added Raines on Main will also give back to the community, with charity nights for charitable organizations, including churches, schools, civic causes and other events.

If the new venture is successful, another location is possible.

“If this does really well, we’ll do another location like it,” Durkee said. “It’s hard to do quality food under $10, and if we can do, it and do it right, it’s a home run.”