Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Family atmosphere at Village Inn
Carol Gray and her staff at Village Inn Fayetteville will treat you like you are part of their family
There are over 200 Village Inn restaurants in 21 states across America. All of them serving great pies, delicious breakfast, and the iconic orange and yellow logo on the building. Only one of them though, has Carol Gray.
Gray started working the graveyard shift at the Village Inn at 3364 N College Ave in Fayetteville years ago. There would be kids who would come in after a night of partying and she would feed them, and then take care of them, making sure they were safe. She has continued to care for each and every one of her customers ever since as she has climbed to the top; Gray is now the General Manager.
There are the regulars that come to eat every week, every day, and even twice a day for some folks.
“This isn’t a job. Each day of the week I know which regulars are coming. And pie rush Wednesday (free pie with a purchase of anything, including just a drink), I get to see all of them, and if I don’t see them in the morning; I know I will get to see them in the evening. I know if they don’t come, I know that something is wrong. Whether it’s grand kids, I know there is something. We try to keep up with them pretty good,” Gray said.
You don’t see that many places where the General Manager can keep tabs on their customers, but Gray does. But, she isn’t the only one keeping tabs on others.
In 2016, Gray won her second franchise’s General Manager of the Year which is nationwide. She also took home the crown in 2014.
“Customers watch that kind of thing. Especially the regulars, kind of makes them feel proud I guess, that they come here every day and we won an award,” Gray said.
Though she gets the recognition for winning the award nationally, she knows that it is a team effort to make Village Inn Fayetteville to run as smooth as it does.
“Myself personally, I would not have won anything without each and every staff member that I have. From the bussers, the hosts, they servers, the cooks, the dishwashers; it takes all of us to make this place successful. It’s not me. Francisco speaks to every lady that has a child. And notices that you need a refill on your drinks and doesn’t hesitate to do it,” Gray said.
Though no other Village Inn has Carol Gray at the helm, they all have the same neighborhood type feel when you walk in; you feel like you’re at home.
“I hope that it is because of the comfortable feeling that people have when they come here. Excellent staff that makes people feel welcome here, makes them feel comfortable here. There are kids that come in and study here. They might stay here all night. People meet friends here, eat lunch, there’s no pressure; they can stay here all day. A lot of restaurants don’t make you feel that way,” Gray said.
There are two other locations in the Northwest Arkansas range that have the same type of feel. In Bentonville, at 2300 SE Walton Blvd. and also down in Fort Smith, at 7620 Rogers Ave.
All of them make you feel at home, because their meals have that great, homemade, built from scratch taste that no one can resist.
Serving breakfast all day long, anything you want that is breakfast food, there is a great chance that you can find it there.
The long-time most popular menu item is the Inn-famous,
Inn-credible, V.I.B. Where you choose four different items from over 30 options. A choice of eggs, meat, side and of course the main dish (pancakes, waffles, french toast or crepe).
“Most popular item on our breakfast menu would have to be our V.I.B. Because of the choices. There are so many options that you don’t have to have the same thing every time that you come,” Gray said.
Despite the obvious most popular choice, there is a new breakfast item on the menu that has the customers excited. The Sidewinder Scrambles are three different choices of your favorite breakfast items. The Nashville Scramble has the traditional sausage, ham, two scrambled eggs, onions. Topped with sausage gravy and chopped bacon on a bed of Sidewinder potatoes. There is also the Harvest Scramble with lots of veggies such as spinach, mushrooms, onions, artichokes and tomatoes on top of the same two scrambled eggs and Sidewinder potatoes. Then, the last one is the Bacon Cheeseburger Scramble. Which has ground beef and scrambled eggs over the Sidewinder potatoes, topped with Pepper Jack queso, bacon and diced tomatoes.
The Nashville and Harvest Scramble are priced at $9.99, while the Bacon Cheeseburger Scramble is $10.29.
But lets be honest, when you think Village Inn, you think about their sweet, delicious pies that you see right when you walk in the door.
Each month, Village Inn has their pie of the month along with their seasonal pies that are available for a limited time. This seasonal feature pie right now this the Hawaiian Strawberry, which has pineapple, coconut and crunchy pecans inside their flaky pie crust. Topped with sweet glazed fresh strawberries, real whipped cream, coconut sprinkles and pecan bits and garnished with pineapple.
The pie of the month of May is the Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough pie with a chocolate chip cookie layer, topped with their original French silk, and finished with real whipped cream, chocolate sauce and chocolate chip cookie dough pieces. And from personal experience, it is a must try at the Village Inn, so make sure you make it there before it is too late.
Customers come for the food, but stay for the people. The Village Inn Fayetteville is truly a rare atmosphere in a chain restaurant. They are a family, and not just the workers, but their customers too.
“As a team, we really want everyone to come here, we want them to be happy when they leave and always come back, because they are apart of the family. Sincerely part of the family,” Gray said.
Village Inn in Fayetteville is open 6 a.m.-midnight Sunday through Thursday, and 24 hours on Friday and Saturday. The Bentonville and Fort Smith location is open 6 a.m.-midnight daily but, Fort Smith is open 6 a.m.-2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.
More information and the menu is available at villageinn. com.
Oh, and those kids that Gray took care of during the night shift? They still come back to visit her with their own families. The Village Inn is one big, happy family.