Fayrays

White table cloths, ambiance and a professional staff set the tone for your dining experience! Fayrays is an oasis in South Arkansas. Opening its doors in August of 1999. Ray Black his daughter, Brandy Black Alewine and her husband, Richard Alewine formed an unlikely partnership, fayrays restaurant, no capital letters nor apostrophe. They desired to bring the option of fine dining, extensive wine and foreign beer selections, white table cloths and “something other than paper” napkins to LA (Lower Arkansas). Carefully planning and executing a menu that would please, educate and “up the ante” a bit was achieved. Customers have faithfully been entering the BLUE DOOR for lunch and dinner, Monday through Friday. Ray’s idea of owning and operating a restaurant was to walk around the dining floor with an unlit cigar in one hand and a dry martini, up, in the other. Talking, cajoling, flirting, bussing a table - NOT. He was in his element, doing what he did best. Whoo-Whee! Sadly he passed away two years into this adventure, but, he did see it come to fruition and it was a dream realized. People are always asking how we came up with the name fayrays. Well, this is the Reader’s Digest version. When the first King Kong movie came out in the ’30’s, Fay Wray played the part of Ann Darrow. My father, Ray, as a young child saw the movie. It made quite an impression on him, the monster - no, the cinematography - no, seeing the wind blow Fay’s shirt open just a tinsy bit and, perhaps seeing a bit of bra or, better yet, boobie (whichever) was an image he never forgot. Years later, with his girls in Colorado, he was speaking of Fay Wray - they were oblivious to who she was, but said “Dad if you ever open a restaurant, you must name it fayrays, because your name is Ray! oh, yea, and that memory (boobies) engrained in your brain.” Quirky, short and sweet, that is how fayrays came to be named! Patrons have brought us all sorts of King Kong Memorabilia. A french Kong Comic book, a King Kong snow globe, stills from the original movie, ties, pens, ornaments, toys, salt & pepper shakers, Empire State Building Models, plates, stuffed animals and even an Ann Darrow Barbie doll. Our Collection has grown to be very extensive.