The following article was written by John Brasier and featured in the Triad Business Journal.

A new restaurant/bar in Greensboro will feature a distinctive Kentucky flavor.

Bourbon.

Either neat, with a splash of water, or on the rocks. Perhaps in a mint julep – the favorite drink at the Kentucky Derby – or in a Manhattan, or an old fashioned. And yes, in various food dishes, too.

As Jessica Borgione, owner of soon-to-open Rascal’s Tavern, admits – she loves bourbon, as well as Scotch and Tennessee whiskey.

Whiskey drinks and specialty sandwiches will be featured at Rascal’s, which Borgione hopes to have open by August 10^th – depending on permitting. The restaurant is at 2270 Golden Gate Drive in Golden Gate Shopping Center in Greensboro, the former site of Melt, which closed on June 2^nd. Melt’s location at 1941 New Garden Road remains open.

Yes, Rascal’s will have beer, but the focus will be on liquor. The establishment also will sell cigars.

“I like to stick to the classics,” said Borgione, a former Melt manager who recently returned to the Triad after working for Sage Restaurant Group in Denver. “We’ll stay true to our bourbons, scotch and whiskey. I love bourbon – it’s such a comfort. There’s nothing better than bourbon with a cigar on the porch in the fall.”

Borgione will feature sandwiches that are hard to find anywhere else in the Triad. She listed a Polish Boy kielbasa sausage covered with french fries, cole slaw and barbecue or hot sauce that’s popular in her native Cleveland as an example, along with authentic Chicago-style Italian beef and Philly cheesesteaks. The sandwiches will be on Italian hoagie rolls.

Borgione said entree specials will change every week. Appetizers will include fried green tomatoes. She’ll also have a burger on the menu.

“We’re trying to bring a new convention to Greensboro. It will be a little different than other places,” she said.

The 29-year-old Borgione, who has worked in the industry for 15 years, said she plans to be on site seven days a week.

Garret Bedrin of the family-operated Bedrin Organization, which owns Golden Gate Shopping Center, said his company had several inquiries about the location after it became known Melt was leaving. Bedrin owns eight Triad shopping malls, including six in Greensboro.

The former Melt site is only 1,500 square feet – Borgione said the dining area may be less than 1,000 square feet – with a capacity of 50.

Borgione said the barnwood walls and stained concrete floors give the small restaurant the feel of a “Kentucky speakeasy.” She said she needed to make only cosmetic changes to the former Melt.

Bourgeon said Rascal’s will be open from 11 a.m. until 2 a.m. Thursday through Sunday, and from 11 a.m. until midnight the rest of the week. The menu will be the same for lunch and dinner, with changes for late-night customers.