JONESBORO, Ark. — Abe’s Place, a fine dining restaurant located on Chancery Lane near East Johnson Avenue, offers a blend of New Orleans-inspired cuisine with Memphis blues and soul. The establishment, co-owned by Robert Abraham and Carolyn Coleman, has quickly become a cornerstone for both food lovers and music enthusiasts in Jonesboro.
The restaurant showcases live music Friday and Saturday nights, featuring regional talent like Brewster and Company, Delaney Taylor, and Mary Beth, a favorite among locals.
“We’ve had several groups perform here,” Abraham said. “People in the local area really love Mary Beth.”
Running a restaurant that emphasizes both dining and entertainment comes with unique challenges. Coleman pointed to the importance of community support, crediting Jonesboro’s well-known restaurateur Omar of Omar’s Uptown as an inspiration and resource.
“It’s hard to be anywhere without support, especially here in Jonesboro,” Coleman said. “A lot of the support came from Omar. We frequent him still, even now that Abe’s is open.”
The concept behind Abe’s Place originated from Abraham and Coleman’s weekend trips to Memphis, where they sought out fine dining and live music. They wanted to bring that experience closer to home.
“Carolyn and I would go to Memphis on weekends, have dinner at a really nice restaurant, and then come home and relax,” Abraham explained. “We wanted something different for Jonesboro. Basically, we kind of brought New Orleans and Memphis to Jonesboro.”
In addition to co-owning Abe’s Place, Coleman operates Premiere Family Practice in the region. She noted that working together in such a demanding environment can be challenging for the couple, but they share a passion for helping people.
“We both have very strong personalities,” Coleman said. “He’s a surgeon, and I’m a nurse practitioner with my own business. It’s challenging, but it’s what we like to do — to be in a position to help others.”
Abe’s Place is open Tuesday through Thursday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. and extends its evening hours to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Sunday brunch is served from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.