/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/dmn/3D2CUEVOEBDAJHM34ZV23VN5DQ.jpg?w=1920&resize=1920,1267&ssl=1 "Reba McEntire’s restaurant in Oklahoma is worth a short road trip north of Dallas")
Country singer Reba McEntire has put her title on a new restaurant in Atoka, Okla., a simple drive two hours north of Dallas in Choctaw Nation. The restaurant serves Southern meals alongside one-of-a-kind memorabilia, just like the sequin robes and fringe cowboy boots McEntire famously wore over time.
But greater than a glitzy spot to eat, Reba’s Place is a hometown hail Mary from the red-headed nation singer.
“This will turn around our town,” stated Carol Ervin, financial director for Atoka — inhabitants 3,250. For years, she’s been engaged on opening Reba’s Place, which is close to the agricultural half of Oklahoma the place McEntire grew up.
“We were really struggling. This is the catalyst project we need,” Ervin stated.
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During a grand opening celebration in late January 2023, crowds gathered inside and out of doors to see the long-awaited restaurant and its namesake, who generously took images and chatted with followers. In the approaching months and past, Ervin believes vacationers from all around the nation will go to Reba’s Place for candy tea, inexperienced chile cornbread, fried inexperienced tomatoes, hen fried steak and banana pudding.
“We’ve had people calling us every day, from California. From Ohio,” Ervin stated.
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Years in the past, Ervin and her crew nicknamed the top-secret initiative Project Saber — that’s Reba’s backwards.
McEntire gave all of the credit score to the design crew and to govt chef Kurtess Mortensen for turning the three-story former Masonic Temple into a den for drinks, meals and nation music. McEntire stated she loves beans and cornbread however wouldn’t understand how put that on a restaurant-quality menu.
“The best thing I can make is a reservation,” she stated, flashing a Cheshire grin.
Chef Mortensen previously labored for greater than 5 years at Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond’s restaurant, which is additionally in Oklahoma.
Mortensen’s menu has some ties to Texas, together with the microgreens he sources from McKinney, quail from Fort Worth and hen from East Texas. All of the meat comes from the Choctaw Nation reservation, an 11,000-square-mile territory in southeastern Oklahoma.
Reba McEntire and Executive Chef Kurtess Mortensen spoke concerning the 3-story restaurant and menu in the course of the opening in downtown Atoka, Oklahoma.
How Reba obtained her Place
McEntire was residence together with her siblings in Oklahoma in early 2020, when her mom Jacqueline McEntire was battling most cancers and died at age 93. The nation star cleared her live performance calendar to grieve, and nearly instantly, the COVID-19 pandemic stored her residence. Creating Reba’s Place helped McEntire really feel linked together with her hometown.
“I just wish Mama and Daddy were here to see it and love it,” McEntire stated, her voice shaking.
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Guests to the restaurant ought to ascend to the third ground library — a room shared with a sizeable reward store with Reba-themed gear. McEntire’s Mama’s books line the partitions of the library, and a hidden door in the center peeks into a speakeasy that McEntire makes use of as her personal dressing room throughout occasions.
The second ground eating space has a number of personal rooms, together with The “Fancy” Room, named for McEntire’s 1990 hit track. And in a number of components of the restaurant, church pews are used for sales space seating. Those got here from one of the church buildings, now gone, behind the Atoka restaurant.
One of the servers stated her niece’s tooth marks are nonetheless on one of the pews, from the Sunday mornings when the toddler sat there, teething.
“This is the most exciting thing here that’s happened in quite some time,” stated one other staffer, Angelia Whiddon. She’s lived in Atoka on and off for 50 years.
Reba McEntire celebrates the opening of her Oklahoma restaurant
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[18/18] An exterior view of nation music legend Reba McEntire’s new restaurant, Reba’s Place, in downtown Atoka, Oklahoma, January 26, 2023. Reba grew up simply north of Atoka and needed to go away a legacy to the neighborhood so in partnership with the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and the City Of Atoka, she created Reba’s. The restored, three-story constructing that when housed the Masonic Temple, is now a restaurant, bar, dwell music venue and retail retailer. The important ground additionally showcases a restored vintage bar that is greater than 100 years previous.(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)
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[1/18] Country music legend Reba McEntire carried out earlier than buddies, officers and media gathered for the opening of her new restaurant, Reba’s Place, in downtown Atoka, Oklahoma, January 26, 2023. Reba grew up simply north of Atoka and needed to go away a legacy to the neighborhood in partnership with the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and the City Of Atoka. The restored, three-story constructing that when housed the Masonic Temple, is now a restaurant, bar, dwell music venue and retail retailer.(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)
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[2/18] Country music legend Reba McEntire carried out earlier than buddies, officers and media gathered for the opening of her new restaurant, Reba’s Place, in downtown Atoka, Oklahoma, January 26, 2023. Reba grew up simply north of Atoka and needed to go away a legacy to the neighborhood in partnership with the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and the City Of Atoka. The restored, three-story constructing that when housed the Masonic Temple, is now a restaurant, bar, dwell music venue and retail retailer.(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)
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[3/18] Country music legend Reba McEntire opened a restaurant, Reba’s Place, in downtown Atoka, Oklahoma, the place visitors can dine on the railing overlooking the stage, January 26, 2023. This second story eating space encircles the stage and first ground eating room. Reba grew up simply north of Atoka and needed to go away a legacy to the neighborhood in partnership with the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and the City Of Atoka. The restored, three-story constructing that when housed the Masonic Temple, is now a restaurant, bar, dwell music venue and retail retailer. (Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)
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[4/18] Red Head Ritas have been served to visitors in the course of the opening of Reba’s Place in downtown Atoka, Oklahoma, January 26, 2023. Country music legend Reba McEntire is opening the restaurant close to the place she grew up. She needed to go away a legacy to the neighborhood in partnership between the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and the City Of Atoka. The restored, three-story constructing that when housed the Masonic Temple, is now a restaurant, bar, dwell music venue and retail retailer.(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)
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[5/18] City of Atoka Economic Development Director Carol Ervin (left) laughs as her shut good friend and nation music legend Reba McEntire (proper) winds up her efficiency for visitors on the opening of Reba’s Place in downtown Atoka, Oklahoma, January 27, 2023. Reba grew up simply north of Atoka and needed to go away a legacy to the neighborhood with a partnership between the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and the City of Atoka. The restored, three-story constructing that when housed the Masonic Temple, is now a restaurant, bar, dwell music venue and retail retailer. The important ground additionally showcases a restored vintage bar that is greater than 100 years previous.(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)
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[6/18] Country music legend Reba McEntire had her moms Jackie’s guide assortment placed on show in Reba’s Place library in downtown Atoka, Oklahoma, January 26, 2023. One of the cabinets truly is a door to a secret room. Reba, who grew up simply north of Atoka, needed to go away a legacy to the neighborhood with the partnership between Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and the City Of Atoka. The restored, three-story constructing that when housed the Masonic Temple, is now a restaurant, bar, dwell music venue and retail retailer. (Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)
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[7/18] Lights Out blood orange-topped whiskey drinks have been served to visitors in the course of the opening of Reba’s Place in downtown Atoka, Oklahoma, January 26, 2023. Country music legend Reba McEntire is opening the restaurant close to the place she grew up. She needed to go away a legacy to the neighborhood in partnership between the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and the City Of Atoka. The restored, three-story constructing that when housed the Masonic Temple, is now a restaurant, bar, dwell music venue and retail retailer.(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)
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[8/18] Friends, officers and media gathered for the opening of Reba McEntire’s new restaurant, Reba’s Place, in downtown Atoka, Oklahoma, January 26, 2023. Reba grew up simply north of Atoka and needed to go away a legacy to the neighborhood in partnership with the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and the City Of Atoka. The restored, three-story constructing that when housed the Masonic Temple, is now a restaurant, bar, dwell music venue and retail retailer. (Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)
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[9/18] Executive Chef Kurtess Mortensen finds himself in the center of Reba McEntire’s duet, Does He Love You, with Carmella Ramsey (proper) throughout a gap night time efficiency at Reba’s Place in downtown Atoka, Oklahoma, January 26, 2023. Reba grew up simply north of Atoka and needed to go away a legacy to the neighborhood in partnership with the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and the City Of Atoka. The restored, three-story constructing that when housed the Masonic Temple, is now a restaurant, bar, dwell music venue and retail retailer.(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)
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[10/18] An overhead view of the eating room, bar and live performance stage of Reba McEntire’s new restaurant, Reba’s Place, in downtown Atoka, Oklahoma, January 26, 2023. Reba grew up simply north of Atoka and needed to go away a legacy to the neighborhood in partnership with the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and the City Of Atoka. The restored, three-story constructing that when housed the Masonic Temple, is now a restaurant, bar, dwell music venue and retail retailer. The important ground additionally showcases a restored vintage bar that is greater than 100 years previous.(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)
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[11/18] Some of Reba McEntire’s trend assortment are on everlasting show inside Reba’s Place, a new restaurant and live performance venue in downtown Atoka, Oklahoma, about two hours north of Dallas on U.S. Hwy 75. In partnership with the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and the City Of Atoka, Reba needed to go away a legacy to the neighborhood close to the place she grew up. The restored, three-story constructing that when housed the Masonic Temple, is now a restaurant, bar, dwell music venue and retail retailer.(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)
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[12/18] Some of Reba McEntire’s elaborate robes are on everlasting show inside Reba’s Place, a new restaurant and live performance venue in downtown Atoka, Oklahoma, about two hours north of Dallas on U.S. Hwy 75. In partnership with the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and the City Of Atoka, Reba needed to go away a legacy to the neighborhood close to the place she grew up. The restored, three-story constructing that when housed the Masonic Temple, is now a restaurant, bar, dwell music venue and retail retailer.(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)
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[13/18] Influencer Carrie Jernigan wore a red-fringed cowboy boots and a Fancy t-shirt to nation music legend Reba McEntire’s opening of Reba’s Place in downtown Atoka, Oklahoma, January 26, 2023. Reba grew up simply north of Atoka and needed to go away a legacy to the neighborhood in partnership with the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and the City Of Atoka. The restored, three-story constructing that when housed the Masonic Temple, is now a restaurant, bar, dwell music venue and retail retailer. The important ground additionally showcases a restored vintage bar that is greater than 100 years previous.(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)
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[14/18] Gold data line the wall of nation music legend Reba McEntire’s new restaurant, Reba’s Place, in downtown Atoka, Oklahoma, January 26, 2023. Reba grew up simply north of Atoka and needed to go away a legacy to the neighborhood in partnership with the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and the City Of Atoka. The restored, three-story constructing that when housed the Masonic Temple, is now a restaurant, bar, dwell music venue and retail retailer.(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)
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[15/18] An Oklahoma-shaped charcuterie board full of meats and spreads is served at Reba’s Place in downtown Atoka, Oklahoma. Country music legend Reba McEntire is opening the restaurant close to the place she grew up. She needed to go away a legacy to the neighborhood in partnership between the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and the City Of Atoka. The restored, three-story constructing that when housed the Masonic Temple, is now a restaurant, bar, dwell music venue and retail retailer.(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)
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[16/18] The retail retailer of Reba McEntire’s new restaurant, Reba’s Place in downtown Atoka, Oklahoma, sells jewellery and cutlery, January 26, 2023. Reba grew up simply north of Atoka and needed to go away a legacy to the neighborhood in partnership with the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and the City Of Atoka. The restored, three-story constructing that when housed the Masonic Temple, is now a restaurant, bar, dwell music venue and retail retailer. (Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)
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[17/18] The important ground of Reba’s Place showcases a restored vintage bar that is greater than 100 years previous. Country music legend Reba McEntire opened the restaurant in downtown Atoka, Oklahoma, Janaiury 26, 2023. Reba grew up simply north of Atoka and needed to go away a legacy to the neighborhood in partnership with the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and the City Of Atoka. The restored, three-story constructing that when housed the Masonic Temple, is now a restaurant, bar, dwell music venue and retail retailer. (Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)
[18/18] An exterior view of nation music legend Reba McEntire’s new restaurant, Reba’s Place, in downtown Atoka, Oklahoma, January 26, 2023. Reba grew up simply north of Atoka and needed to go away a legacy to the neighborhood so in partnership with the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and the City Of Atoka, she created Reba’s. The restored, three-story constructing that when housed the Masonic Temple, is now a restaurant, bar, dwell music venue and retail retailer. The important ground additionally showcases a restored vintage bar that is greater than 100 years previous.(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)
[1/18] Country music legend Reba McEntire carried out earlier than buddies, officers and media gathered for the opening of her new restaurant, Reba’s Place, in downtown Atoka, Oklahoma, January 26, 2023. Reba grew up simply north of Atoka and needed to go away a legacy to the neighborhood in partnership with the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and the City Of Atoka. The restored, three-story constructing that when housed the Masonic Temple, is now a restaurant, bar, dwell music venue and retail retailer.(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)
To kick off the official opening of the restaurant, McEntire carried out simply over 10 songs to an adoring crowd, bringing most to tears throughout “I’m a Survivor.” McEntire wiped tears from her eyes many instances in the course of the a number of hours she spent on the grand opening.
“I just have been so emotional about all the work that has gone into this beautiful place,” she stated.
Reba’s Place is at 301 E. Court St., Atoka, Oklahoma.
For extra meals news, comply with Sarah Blaskovich on Twitter at @sblaskovich.
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