Ben Williams to open Black Cap Grille in mid-summer

Former Horsefeathers co-founder opening new restaurant at Settlers' Crossing

Ben Williams is back in the restaurant business.Co-founder of Horsefeathers with former owner Brian Glynn in North Conway in 1976, Williams left Horsefeathers last year to pursue new opportunities.Horsefeathers is now owned by David Peterson, owner or co-owner of such local businesses as Decades, Zeb's, the Wildcat Inn and Tavern, Glass Graphics and the Kearsarge Inn.Since leaving Horsefeathers, Williams has been working as a consultant in the restaurant business until now, as Settlers' Green Management announced last week that Williams would be running the new Black Cap Grille at its newest shopping center, Settlers' Crossing, home to the recently opened Eastern Mountain Sports and Climbing School, Starbucks and Borders. Located at 1498 White Mountain Highway, the new restaurant plans a grand opening for mid-summer 2009, and will seat approximately 100, including the outdoor caf area. Just steps away from nearly a million square feet of shopping, dining and lodging properties, the restaurant is named for Black Cap Mountain, a peak of 2,369 feet and part of the Green Hills located just east of North Conway.With a background of entrepreneurship that spans three decades, Williams is up to the challenge of building a new experience for the areas discerning diners, according to Settlers' Green Outlet Village general manager Dot Seybold.Come hungry and bring a friend is the restaurant motto.Were developing a menu that gives great food value to its customers through affordable prices and generous servings, said Williams in a press release issued by settlers' Green March 13. With a dcor designed by one of Bostons most well respected architectural firms, Prellwitz and Chilinski, the restaurant will feature a stone fireplace and cozy seating for parties of two or 20. A custom made bar area with plush banquettes and cushy bar stools, wide screen TVs and friendly bartenders will serve a variety of cold wines, beers and freshly poured specialty martinis.The full menu of affordable, fresh grilled items, soups, fresh salads and creative daily specials will be served in both the dining area and the bar, according to Williams.The Black Cap Grille will have its own personality, said Williams. Quite frankly, I love the restaurant business and look forward to creating a place where food is always the top priority and where customers are always warmly welcomed and professionally served. North Conway has some really great restaurants, said Settlers Crossing and Settlers Green Outlet Village developer Rob Barsamian, but most of them are north of us. Working with Ben to bring a new level of dining to this end of town is an exciting opportunity. The restaurant Web site at www.blackcapgrille.com features news about the construction, interior and exterior design features, marketing and promotional plans and graphics. A logo and marketing package has been designed and developed by the award-winning marketing firm, Glen Group, located in North Conway. Staffing will total 25 to 30 including back of the house and front of the house, according to Williams. The Settlers Green and Settlers Crossing shopping centers are managed by OVP Management, Inc. The company is dedicated to bringing high quality, value shopping and dining to the North Conway region and manages over 500,000 square feet of retail and restaurant centers. The developments have a total tax-value of over $34,000,000 and contribute over $600,000 in real estate taxes annually to the town of Conway, according to Seybold.The company is committed to working with local and regional contractors for all their projects and has injected tens of millions of dollars into the local economy, she said. Known for its philanthropy to non-profits, the company has donated to the community since 1990 for projects such as the Ham Arena, Children Unlimited, the Loynd Auditorium, Gary Millen stadium, the Starting Point, Arts Jubilee, North Conway Daycare and many more.For more information about the Black Cap Grille or Ben Williams please go to blackcapgrille.com and for more information about Settlers Crossing go to shopsettlerscrossing.com.