Decoy, Gainesville’s first eater-tainment venue, officially opened on the Historic Downtown Square with a ribbon cutting ceremony Friday afternoon.
Rand Carswell, who owns the restaurant in partnership with his Macy, shared with AccessWDUN the establishment located in the newly renovated Historic Walton Jackson Building offers an up-scale dining experience combined with casual fun.
“What we are is a restaurant and bar- centered concept,” Carswell said. “So, when you walk in, you walk into the restaurant and you see the bar is the main focus inside of the restaurant.-- But, if you keep walking through, you now get into the entertainment side of things.”
The venue offers to its patrons three major attractions, including a sports simulator, duck-pin bowling and a high-tech minigolf course with nine holes, but, Carswell said just as the restaurant’s name implies, patrons may not know that from just a glance at the building.
“The whole meaning behind ‘Decoy’ was kind of to have something that was a facade that when you walk in, and it was a restaurant and a bar,” he said. “And [ you think], ‘how could it be more than this?’ But then, as you keep walking through, it continues to open up to more and more stuff, which is then kind of the surprise and the ‘decoy’ for everything.”
The restaurant features a contemporary American menu, complete with fish dishes, steak, salad options, handhelds and a large shareables menu designed to be enjoyed while playing games.
Carswell is a restaurateur who also owns and operates The Chattahoochee Grill and Pop Catering & Events in Gainesville. Prior to opening both businesses, he worked as a private chef for celebrities including Jennifer Lopez and the Kardashian family. He also appeared on the Food Network’s Food Truck Face Off, where he won a food truck.
Decoy’s operating hours will be from 11 a.m. until midnight Thursday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 10 a.m. Sunday through Wednesday.
