Dear Neighbors,
A rambling by Dennis Quaintance, CEO & CSO (Chief Storytelling Officer)
My wonderful stepfather yelled, “Lad, do as I say, not as I do!” as he gunned it, fishtailing and kicking up a tremendous rooster tail behind his ’69 Plymouth Road Runner leaving our mobile home in Darby, MT. That experience is indelibly imprinted in my mind, not just for the over-the-top muscle car power and the out-of-control feeling when he dropped the clutch grabbing second, but also because I thought, “Right…good advice: This is something I ought NOT do.”
How does that relate to this letter? For years, I’ve suggested to countless people that pretending you are moving every five years will not only help you declutter, but also give you the bonus of finding stuff that you’ve been looking for or things that move you emotionally. And guess what? I’ve taken my own advice exactly ZERO times in the past 30 years. However, in late September we moved our offices, and the decluttering certainly did feel great…and I found some wildly moving nuggets.
You’re likely thinking, “What, pray tell, did you find?” Read on to find some photos and other stuff that I had forgotten about or thought lost.
Here’s some of the fun stuff I found…
All of this brought up an idea that QW ought to have a chronicler who objectively looks at what this employee trust-owned outfit has done in its 36½ years, what’s happening now, and what’s next. We will soon kick that off with not just one person playing that role, but several who will contribute. Much like The Economist magazine uses the pseudonym “Lexington” for its column that “provides perceptive analysis and commentary on American politics, policies, and cultural dynamics,” we’ll use the pseudonym “Rives,” under which several key folk will “provide commentary and perspective” on this outfit.
Why the Rives handle? To honor our amazing friends and collaborators, Don and Anne Rives. Both are no longer of the earth, but they are soulfully with us each day for countless reasons, including the extraordinary influences they had on everything from design details and the encouragement to follow our dreams to fond memories of their good humor and the belly laughs we shared.
Don was QW’s Minister of Design for years. (He called me the Prime Minister!) It is his talent and creativity that made the O.Henry and GVG the warm and timeless places that we all get to enjoy these 27 years on.
A fun story: One of our restaurant colleagues helped at the office for a short while. When he went back to the restaurant, a manager asked, “What does Dennis do at the office?” He responded, “He’s not there much, but when he is, he and that guy with a beard (Don) laugh all of the time.” He was right, yet we got loads done.
Among the countless things Don taught me was that an effective collaboration includes spirited (yet not meanspirited!) arguments and loads of laughs. That’s the sort of environment we will continually cultivate here.
The inscription reads, “Don Rives was our Minister of Design from 1989 – 2007. He gave back to others as rain what he received as mist; he taught us about beauty and joy and how to turn our dreams into a physical reality. In his memory we so lovingly dedicate this garden.”
Chip Holton spent more than eight months in an abandoned second-floor store in Lexington painting what he refers to as his “magnum opus.”
This huge piece inspired by the Dutch still life tradition was installed over the entrance to the Green Valley Grill kitchen 27 years ago. It is 24 feet wide. We’d both forgotten about these photos. For years, I’ve told folk that the peaches are larger than basketballs, and now you can see that I’m not exaggerating (not that I’m above it). Chip has been QW’s artist-in-residence for 37 years: Let’s just call that a world record!
Some other finds:
- A 20-page QW study prepared by Employee Ownership experts in 2004. In 2016, QW finally became 100% Employee Trust owned: That’s a long gestation period!
- Not to bring up a sore topic, but…we also found a 26-page “Respiratory Pandemic Contingency Plan” from 2005 that we developed with public
health experts.
Each Thursday for seven years (up ‘til 2000), Nancy did four or five cooking segments over two hours on the WFMY Good Morning Show. Mostly she showed off Lucky 32 recipes. She is the real deal! I’m one lucky guy to get to hang out and play hotel and restaurant with her over these past 45 years (42 of those we’ve been hitched).
Mike Weaver, my great friend and business partner, pictured here in 1989, is a genuine hero to me and many others.
Beyond Nancy, nobody has been more supportive of me in my life and career. He is always a great friend, advisor and mentor… through thick and thin.
This sketch from 1988 of the cook line side of the L32 pick-up window is by my amazing friend, mentor and kitchen design guru, Bill Carlisle. How much do Nancy and I think of Bill? Carlisle is our son’s middle name.
Meanwhile…In Other News
The question I’ve been asked the most over the past few years is, “What’s going on with Luckys in Greensboro?” Here’s the backstory: As we were waking up the Green Valley Grill and Print Works Bistro from their brief pandemic hibernation, we were wildly understaffed, so we held off reopening Luckys for a good while so the L32 team could help out at their sister restaurants. (Obviously, our hotel guests expect those restaurants to be open breakfast, lunch and dinner 365.) That support lasted for a few years, so we kept Luckys open on an extremely limited schedule. It’s only been months since we reopened for lunch and dinner six days (it’s brunch on Saturday and Sunday, and we are not open Mondays).
What’s happening now? We are much more than knee-deep into a year-long L32 V3.2 process to take our offerings and ambiance up a notch while not raising prices much, or at all. As with the previous significant L32 evolutions, we will take it slow, trying out new recipes and presentations as specials, so that you, our wonderful neighbors, can help guide us. Regarding the ambiance, Chip Holton (QW Artist-in- Residence) is creating works for Luckys on the stage in the bar in Greensboro. Chip is an amazing talent with an extraordinary imagination. There are already 40-plus of his incredible pieces in the restaurant. Stop by and chat with him: You’ll find he’s a blast in dialog.
The story for our L32 in Cary is not at all the same, yet most of these same enhancements are underway there as well. You’ll already find the printed fabric chair covers and booth backs with leather seats, and soon some huge paintings of vignettes from around the restaurant will be hung in the dining rooms. We are also improving our outdoor dining terrace with an updated design, new umbrellas, wonderful plantings and some new custom-made larger tables so that groups of six, eight or 10 will have improved outdoor dining options.
Cheers!
Overnight Date Night?
It seems we are all due for some sweet romance. Get yours here! Order room service, dine in bathrobes…and hang out the “Do Not Disturb” sign (wink, wink).
Why not? Get it on your calendars. Consider one of our Romance Packages or let us help you design your own special getaway. Give our Romance Advisors a call or send an email to romance@qwrh.com to chat discreetly about creative ways you can design one-of-a-kind sweet or intimate romance at our places.
ohenryhotel.com 336-854-2000 | proximityhotel.com 336-379-8200
Special Hotel Offerings!
Our O.Henry Hotel and Proximity Hotel in Greensboro both have a fantastic variety of special offers, from extraordinary experiences we’ve created for you and your sweetie to make your own sweet memories to other great deals on special events. Here are just a few to whet your appetite: Linger Longer; Get Cozy; AAA Package; Revolutionary Road Trip; Wink, Wink; Sexy Senior Citizen; Concert Packages (Yo-Yo Ma in April!); and One-, Two- and Three-Night Getaways.
Heartwarming Recognition
The Greensboro Chamber honored QW by giving the 2025 Stanley Frank Economic and Workforce Development Award to Nancy and me. We consider ourselves to be the mascots for this winning team, and it is wonderful to think that QW plays a small part in job creation. It makes sense that folk who run organizations want to move jobs to a community where people will enjoy being, and a vibrant restaurant and hotel scene contributes to that. Infrastructure and a great community are the big drivers, but if QW contributes a tad, we couldn’t be more pleased! They did a fantastic job with this video:
Also amazing! A Michelin One Key award for Proximity Hotel! Join us in raising a glass to that!
Read the super nice things they said at: proximityhotel.com
O.Henry Live Jazz
Every Thursday from 6–9 PM, join us in the O.Henry’s commodious Social Lobby for the Cocktails & Jazz series featuring The O.Henry Trio members Dave Fox (piano), Neill Clegg (saxophone, clarinet and flute), and Matt Kendrick (double bass), who are joined by guest vocalists primarily covering The Great American Songbook and jazz classics.
Make it even more special by taking the elevator home after the show with the O.Henry Jazz Package, which also offers limited preferred seating. To see the full lineup and learn more, visit ohenryhotel.com.
Special Holiday Performances:
- Nov. 21, 7–10 PM, O.Henry Trio with special vocalists Sarah Strable and LaTosha Thomas
- Dec. 24, Christmas Eve, 6–9 PM, vocalist Nishah Demeo, Chris Robinson (piano), Matt Kendrick (bass), and Neill Clegg, Jr. (sax) | Two Shows
- Dec. 31, New Year’s Eve: early show, 6–9 PM, Jessica Mashburn & The O.Henry Trio; late show, 10 PM–midnight, Diana Tuffin & Matt Reid Trio.
Restaurants
Bespoke Events!
We tailor the design and execution of your shindig, wedding, business meeting or family gathering to fit your desired outcomes. Our extraordinary planning team will collaborate with you to gain a clear understanding of how—in your wildest dreams—you’d like your guests to feel when they arrive, during the event, and in the minutes and years afterward. Then, beginning with that end in mind, we’ll throw out ideas for everything from soup to nuts and from aesthetics to acoustics. Our culinary and service teams are the real deal: competent, friendly and fun!
Our event spaces are of every size, and most have windows that feature pleasant vistas—all are wonderful and wonderfully different from one another. Some are intimate and warm, ranging from a wine cellar to an antique-mirrored room with lacquered walls overlooking our English Walled Garden. We also have grand spaces, including the natural light-filled Weaver Room with 23 sets of operable doors that can be opened when the temperature and humidity are on our side. See them all and featured weddings at ohenryhotel.com and proximityhotel.com.
Having your event elsewhere (What! Why?) but need accommodations for your out-of-town guests? Learn about our group rates by calling 336-478-9111.
Celebrate New Year’s!
O.Henry or Proximity Hotel Cheers to 2026: Includes a $50 dining credit to GVG, PWB, or L32; a bottle of bubbly; and some fun victuals—a charcuterie tray or romantic sweets plate.
2 Nights, 3 Wishes New Year’s: Choose three of these special amenities to celebrate the arrival of 2026: $50 dining credit to GVG, PWB, or L32; bottle of bubbly or still wine; charcuterie or cheese plate; deluxe adult play kit; deluxe bath kit; a longer stay with early check-in and late checkout; or if available, an upgrade.
Special New Year’s deals at O.Henry and Proximity Hotels are available Dec. 30, 2025 – Jan. 5, 2026. Book your getaway at ohenryhotel.com or proximityhotel.com.
New Year’s Day Dining: Both Lucky 32 restaurants will have a traditional Southern “Good Luck” New Year’s Day menu with the requisite Hoppin’ John, collards, redeye gravy and such. See the menu at lucky32.com.
Holiday Gift Ideas
If setting someone up to dine or stay at our places sounds like a good gift idea, we’ve got you covered. Link via code here or stop by any of our places.
Nutcracker Tea
Each Sunday Nov. 30 ‘til Dec 21
11 AM and 3 PM
(Nov. 30 only at 11 AM)
This is a wonderful tradition at O.Henry!
Several of our GVG colleagues lead a fantastic theatrical troupe and put on a great show, plus you’ll enjoy traditional holiday décor, along with great tea and victuals.
Visit ohenryhotel.com for tickets!
LUCKY 32 SOUTHERN KITCHEN
Greensboro (On Westover Terrace, just off Wendover) 336-370-0707
Cary (On Tryon Road, between US-64 and Kildaire Farm) 919-233-1632
lucky32.com
O.HENRY HOTEL
Greensboro (Off Wendover at Benjamin Parkway, near Friendly Center)
336-854-2000 or 800-965-8259
ohenryhotel.com
GREEN VALLEY GRILL
Greensboro (Adjacent to the O.Henry Hotel) 336-854-2015
greenvalleygrill.com
PROXIMITY HOTEL
Greensboro (Off Wendover at Benjamin Parkway)
336-379-8200 or 800-379-8200
proximityhotel.com
PRINT WORKS BISTRO
Greensboro (Adjacent to the Proximity Hotel) 336-379-0699
printworksbistro.com