AY Magazine / February 2012 / North by Northwest: Building a New Legacy for Fayetteville

North by Northwest: Building a New Legacy for Fayetteville

Legacy Blues, attached to the Legacy Building at 401 W. Watson St., in Fayetteville, is the newest addition to the entertainment district; the restaurant was founded with a simple philosophy: fine food, fine music, fine atmosphere and service … service, service.

“We wanted to enhance the entertainment district. We wanted to become the lighthouse for great blues and great jazz, but we knew we couldn’t do that just as a club,” said Jim Lefler, founder and owner of the lounge.

 

FINE FOOD

American comfort food is American comfort food — you typically know what you’re getting. Such is not the case with Legacy Blues.

A two-page menu reveals the Opening Act, Second Set, Main Act and Encore, all family recipes complete with memorable anecdotes, which Lefler is happy to share.

For our Opening Act, we had an appetizer trio of Captain Tad’s Sweet Chicken Strips, Palm Beach Shrimp Shrimp and Beale Street Catfish Bites. The chicken was surprisingly delightful — for a fried chicken appetizer — a uniquely sweet outside crunch complemented the hot Dijon-mayonnaise mix served alongside the dish. The shrimp and catfish bites were typical, yet separated themselves with the large amount of meat inside the crisp, each for under $10.

Next we headed straight into the Main Act, bypassing the Second Set of classic blues fare — pulled pork, baby back ribs and burgers.

Surprised by the appetizers, the main course truly impressed, we tasted the South Beach Mahi Mahi and 8-ounce Broiled Legacy Filet. Though traditionally a steak-over-seafood eater, the Mahi Mahi converted me. Encrusted in sweet potato and served over spinach greens, dressed with balsamic vinaigrette, mango, roasted walnuts and a drizzle of balsamic glaze, the plate was almost as attractive as it was delicious. The mild fish flavor was enhanced and sweetened by the surrounding components of the dish. 

Though I chose the Mahi Mahi, the steak was just as phenomenal. Lefler explained it isn’t simply the quality of meat that matters — though they only cook top-shelf aged beef — it’s also the way it’s cooked and the kitchen equipment used. Everyone thought he was crazy when he insisted on a $15,000-oven for the steaks, but take one bite and you’ll understand why. 

I’d be remiss if I didn’t share about the Encore, Key Lime Pie — if only I could have truly shared it with you — punchy, sweet and fresh, it transported me to a beach in Florida.

 

FINE MUSIC

Jim Lefler has an alter ego: Jimmy the Biscuit. He’s had a band since he was 12 and put himself through college in the ‘70s by playing jazz at Cajun’s Wharf in Little Rock. He’s played blues, jazz, country and rock ‘n’ roll, touring the country. And his passion for entertainment landed him with a blues lounge in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Legacy Blues opened Labor Day weekend after only 60 days in the space. The lounge draws in a mixed crowd Tuesday through Saturday, from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m., which is exactly what Lefler wanted. 

“You can’t be everything to everyone, but you can have multiple dynamics. My idea is to change the demographic every four hours through the night so everybody has a good experience,” Lefler said. 

Business cocktail hour starts at 4 p.m., live jazz is played during dinner from 5:30 to 8:30 before switching to live blues late night at 9:30, and after midnight the lounge turns into more of a nightclub with a crowd.

The stage is already set for bands to play and includes a vintage, 1957 Hammond B3 organ Lefler bought on Craigslist to complete the blues lounge atmosphere.

“Any time you see Clapton or big rock bands, you will see an old wooden organ box on stage,” Lefler said. “You can’t have a blues band, rock band or gospel church band without having a Hammond organ.”

Though he supports local blues bands, he also brings bands in from quintessential southern blues cities like Memphis, Shreveport and Clarksdale, Mississippi. “When we talk about good food and good music, I want to protect the integrity of the music, so when you tell your friends you know they’ll have a good experience,” he said. “We don’t just bring in jam bands.”

 

FINE ATMOSPHERE

Though it’s attached to one of the most illustrious buildings in Fayetteville, Legacy Blues is anything but pretentious. “We’re fighting the expensive look. We don’t want to run people off,” Lefler said. “The blues club dresses it down, so I can take what would look like a New York night club and turn it into a blues lounge with a comfortable atmosphere.”

Multicolored lights are strung along the balcony seating accentuating the bold blue lettering announcing the lounge. The inside décor is chic enough to give the feel of a big city blues club, but with all the comforts of an Arkansas home. 

The bar and seating area were built as part of the Legacy Building, but has been vacant since its opening in 2007. The intimate area holds approximately 150 people and has a draped back room that can be reserved for groups of people. The stage is clearly the focus of the lounge with large lights and all tables aligned to emphasize the performers.

The walls of Legacy Blues display original artwork from Memphis-based artist Danny Broadway, wall-mounted instruments, encased vinyl records, and, of course, Arkansas Razorbacks paraphernalia, a passion Lefler inherited from his father who drove them up the Pig Trail in their ‘60s station wagon for every home football game — rain, snow or shine.

“It really all comes down to this,” Lefler said, “great steaks, great seafood, great music and world-class service.”