Dream eatery opens in downtown

July 17, 2008

By Jamie Busen

Sydne Holder is exactly where she wants to be.

The Quincy native returned home about four years ago and knew someday she wanted to open a restaurant in Quincy's downtown.

Her visions became reality when she opened Out To Lunch eatery at 218 N. Sixth on July 9.

"It's been in my blood for years," said Holder, who is leasing the building.

Holder has the background for owning a restaurant, having worked as a bartender, waitress and manager for many years at various establishments. She traveled for several years with TGIFriday's working on training others at new stores as a head bartender. She enjoys the social aspect of the restaurant scene just as much as the business aspect.

"When people go out to eat, they are usually in a good mood. It's like a party all of the time," she said.

Her brother, Marlon, is the cook, and her two daughters, Abbey and Ariana, help where needed. She has a handful of other part-time employees.

The restaurant specializes in sandwiches, wraps, salads and homemade soups.

Holder went with a water theme inside, because a large mural with sea life already was painted on the south wall of the 1,300-square-foot restaurant from a previous dining establishment. She embellished the look with a tan and aqua-type-color paint scheme on the other walls.

The restaurant seats 42 people.

Holder said Out To Lunch will deliver to downtown places within a few blocks of her place, and she hopes her establishment becomes a lunch stop for downtown businesspeople. She isn't interested in being open for the dinner crowd, but she anticipates expanding her menu and perhaps being open on weekends in the future, as well as getting a Web site for her business.

"I'm excited, nervous, anxious," said Holder, who also works as a co-host on WGEM News Talk Live. "I want to get it up and going."