Blending the Old with the New: Plank Street Tavern
With a dream to blend the old with the new and create a space to revitalize the nightlife in the city of High Point, Pam and Joe Hubay set out to create Plank Street Tavern. As Pam says, “one of the many little hidden gems” in our community.
Pam moved to High Point in 2007 and was a teacher for the Guilford County School System. But years later, she noticed that something seemed to be missing in High Point and felt a calling to change her career path. Along the way, she met Joe, and together they created something that brought life to Church Avenue.
The vision for Plank Street Tavern stems from the founding idea for it to be “a safe place for people to come hang out and enjoy time with family and friends, while also making new family and friends,” says Pam.
The main inspiration for Pam and Joe to start Plank Street Tavern was the ability to create a space for adults to come together and enjoy a night out on the town.
“There weren’t a lot of places to go,” says Pam “and we wanted a place where people could come and relax, so we created it.” Together, they brought their dream to life and opened Plank Street Tavern in 2019.
“Our vision was to blend the old with the new and move forward with the revitalization of High Point,” Pam said. She explains how the inspiration for this blend came from the city itself.
“Main Street used to be Plank Road, and it was made out of planks for the trolley cars to get to and from the train station, which is how High Point got its name because it was the high point of the train tracks.”
When creating the space, Pam and Joe didn’t like the name Plank Road.
“I didn’t like the way it flowed off the tongue or how it looked when you wrote it out,” Pam explains, “And so, that’s where we put the twist with the new, and we decided to name it ‘Plank Street.’”
Today when you step into Plank Street, you’ll find the atmosphere clean, but rustic and comfortable with small nods to the history for which it was named. It’s this one-of-a-kind ambiance that keeps customers coming back and wanting to soak up every moment of their experience. From the use of aged barn wood, framed old sketches, and modern light fixtures, Plank Street Tavern creates a space that puts pieces of High Points’ history on display. Pam says that everything blended and fell into place better than they imagined.
This blend of the old and new is found within the tiniest of details at Plank Street Tavern. As you look around the restaurant, there are old, framed paintings scattered around the walls. Patty Thomas Schmidlin, a good friend of Joe and Pam, found old sketches of the Thomas Trolley company – the perfect thing to adorn the walls of this newly imagined tavern.
“She was kind enough to let us borrow them and frame them,” said Pam, “They’re from the late twenties and they’re originals.” It’s this subtle creative ability that makes Plank Street Tavern a place where customers want to savor every moment to taste the richness of its past that drips into the future of High Point – all while sipping on their signature cocktails like their beloved Orange Crush or one of their seasonal mules.
But the warmth of Plank Street’s atmosphere doesn’t solely include the decoration and rustic feel but extends to the service and community built around it.
“Everyone has said that they feel safe and comfortable here,” said Pam. The ability to meet and impact so many new people is one of the best parts of the job.
“The bartenders, the staff, and the customers are all around chatting,” says Pam. It’s the ability to build relationships with their regular customers and newer customers that make the work all worth it.
Pam, Joe, and the entire team take great pride in their ability to make people feel at home. They even offer karaoke on Wednesdays and live music on Fridays and Saturdays.
“These events have been a big hit and huge success,” Pam said. These events and entertainment are one of the main ways Pam and Joe build long-lasting relationships with their customers and keep them tapping their toes all night long. So much so that Joe has Plank Street Tavern almost completely booked with dazzling bands and performers to cater to both their old and new customers.
Pam and Joe always go that extra mile to make sure their customers get home safely and have an enjoyable experience during their night out.
“We have the grill out back too, and we always throw some extra food on there to make sure there’s enough to go around, just as a thank you to our customers,” Pam adds. But it’s more than just fun and friendship at Plank Street, Pam and Joe see it as their mission as business owners to invest back into the community that gave Plank Street its name, its home, and its success.
“Joe and I firmly believe in giving back to the community,” Pam explained. “We’ve ordered food from other businesses to serve here, promoted fundraisers, and even hosted events for donations. All because Joe and I really want to be as supportive as possible because we believe in High Point.”
It’s the idea that if we all give, the better. This generous and charitable spirit is what keeps businesses and non-profits in High Point flourishing.
As a part of High Point’s newly established Social District, and the growing Church Ave area, Pam and Joe want Plank Street Tavern to be a part of the revitalization of High Point.
“We’re going to plant roots,” Pam explains. “We’re going to make something different.”
Most people would assume that the growth of new businesses is competition, but Plank Street sees the opposite. “The more the merrier,” says Pam. “None of us can be the sole supplier of everything.”
“Success breeds success,” Pam explains that the more options we have, the better. “If a place is busy, you want to go, but it might not be the mood you’re in that night, so you need other places to choose from.”
Amid this rapid growth, Pam says that it’s important for the community to come together and support each other.
“We feel like it’s a small way to help contribute to the cause and each organization,” Pam said.
One of the most valuable aspects of owning a business is knowing that everything is made and served with love. Pam and Joe say that the most rewarding part of supporting other small businesses is that it allows you to invest in those closest to you, encouraging growth and connection across our city. “They’re the people who are teaching your kids or the nurse at your doctor's office. It’s a good ecosystem that you create when you support local,” Pam explains.
Plank Street Tavern’s warm ambiance, community-centered attitude, and comfortable set-up make it the perfect place to get together with old friends whilst making new ones. It’s local businesses like Plank Street Tavern that make High Point the place to be. Pam and Joe hope that others with a dream to create something will follow the road – or in this case, street – to adding their own touch of the old and new to High Point.
“They’re the people who are teaching your kids or the nurse at your doctor's office. It’s a good ecosystem that you create when you support local.”
Pam Hubay, Owner of Plank Street Tavern
Discover our High Points,
The HPD Team
Photography by Aura Marzouk
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