Why Coffee? Bar and Kitchen on Eastwood Road Is Worth the Trip

Host: Okay, so today we're talking about Why Coffee? Bar and Kitchen on Eastwood Road, and why it's worth the trip. Buddy Blake is here. Buddy, welcome back to Real Stories. This one's a little different, right? It's a brunch story.

Buddy Blake: It is. Thanks for having me. So Erin and I had a rainy Saturday to ourselves, and we decided to keep it simple and go out for brunch. We picked a place I'd been curious about for a while, and I'm really glad we did.

Host: I love that. A rainy Saturday, no big plans. So where did you end up?

Buddy Blake: Why Coffee? Bar and Kitchen. It's fairly new, and I'd call it a nice diner. It's at four thirty-one Eastwood Road, right across from Autumn Hall, which is where our Coldwell Banker office is. It sits next door to Long Leaf Acres.

Host: Oh, so it's practically across the street from your office. Okay, paint me a picture. What do you see when you pull up?

Buddy Blake: From the road you'll see a black metal roof and a sign that reads BAR, WHY COFFEE?, and KITCHEN. There's wooden lattice along the front and hanging plants. Inside, the dining room is bright. Wooden tabletops, white metal chairs, and cage-style pendant lights hanging overhead. One wall is green with WHY COFFEE lettering on it. And there's a coffee bar with white stools and espresso equipment.

Host: Okay, that sounds really inviting. And honestly, a coffee bar and a kitchen under one roof, I get the name now. So what about the food? Because I'm guessing that's what sold you.

Buddy Blake: Look, there are no video games in there, but I'll tell you this. It was one of the best brunches I've had anywhere. I had a steak and scrambled egg plate with red sauce and microgreens, and it was fantastic. The photos I took also show an herb omelet with avocado, seasoned breakfast potato cubes, and toast.

Host: Wait, no video games? Why would there be video games? Hang on, I feel like that's setting something up.

Buddy Blake: It is, and I'll get to it. But first, the people. The place is owner-operated and managed, and the staff was kind and friendly. It was just enjoyable to be there. And here's the thing, it wasn't busy.

Host: Really? On a rainy Saturday, okay, that might explain it. But still, that surprises me if the food's that good.

Buddy Blake: Honestly, I'm not sure people realize it. In my opinion it's better than the other well-known brunch spots. The dining room is roomy and welcoming, even on a quiet day. We'll be back soon, and I highly recommend it.

Host: Okay, now tell me about the video games. You said you're a Wilmington native, and I have a feeling that corner means something to you.

Buddy Blake: It does. I can't drive down Eastwood Road without remembering how it used to be. Fifty or fifty-five years ago, that spot was called The Convenience Store. I was a kid cutting grass for neighbors at five dollars a yard. And where Autumn Hall sits now, there was Duck Haven Golf Course.

Host: No way. A golf course? Right where your office is now?

Buddy Blake: Yep. I'd drag the ponds for used golf balls, clean them up, and sell them to golfers for twenty-five cents each. Then I'd spend a lot of hours playing Donkey Kong, Pac-Man, Galaga, and Asteroids. Nobody was paying me for that part.

Host: Oh, I love that. So the money from the golf balls went straight into the arcade games. That's the most believable kid thing I've ever heard.

Buddy Blake: That's about right. But think about it, that's a lot of change in one stretch of road. A golf course became a neighborhood. A convenience store became a place where you can sit down to a good steak and eggs.

Host: Okay, so I know you only work with home sellers these days. How does a brunch spot connect to that? Because I feel like you've got a point coming.

Buddy Blake: I do. A house is never just a house. It sits in a spot, and the spot matters. When a buyer looks at a home, they're also deciding where they'll get coffee on a Saturday, where they'll run errands, and where they'll take company for brunch. Those everyday places are part of what a home is worth to the person buying it.

Host: That makes a lot of sense. So if someone's thinking about selling, what would you tell them to do with that?

Buddy Blake: I'd ask them to look around their own area with fresh eyes. Spots like Why Coffee? help tell the story of a place. And if you want to dig in, we've put some links in the show notes. There's one for current homes for sale in Wilmington, one for market insights for the two eight four oh three ZIP code around Eastwood Road, and our neighborhood pages. There's also a piece called Before You List on the NC Coast: Inspect, Repair or Sell As-Is, which is worth a read before you decide how to prepare.

Host: Perfect, listeners can grab all of that in the show notes. Okay, last thing. If someone's near Eastwood Road this weekend, what do they do?

Buddy Blake: Go have brunch. I don't usually write about restaurants, but a good local spot deserves a plug. Order the steak and eggs if you like. Tell them Buddy and Erin sent you, or don't. They'll treat you well either way. And if you're a homeowner wondering what your place might be worth, or whether it's time to sell, call or text me at nine-one-oh, three-nine-five, one-oh-oh-oh. We'll talk it through, no pressure. The full article is linked in the show notes.

Host: I love it. A golf course, a convenience store, and now steak and eggs. Buddy, thanks so much for sharing that. This was fun, and now I'm hungry.