Photo credit: McDowell Local
By Daniel Sisk
Fans and Facebook followers of a Main Street favorite received bittersweet news on Monday. McDowell Local is to close as owners Aaron and Lauren Mathews put their sights towards carrying on another local tradition under a new name: Three Sister Cheese & Provisions.
McDowell Local has been a Downtown Marion staple since it was founded in 2018. The self-described neighborhood eatery achieved regional acclaim, covered by Our State magazine, Blue Ridge Mountain Life, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, praised for its status as a scratch kitchen sourcing ingredients locally.
The restaurant has consistently high ratings across all platforms, where guests praise their fresh cooked-to-order burgers, innovative weekend specials, and awesome apps like the poutine made with their signature fries.
The announcement of McDowell Local’s closure sparked a wave of responses in the Facebook comments. Many shared fond memories in the comments, with one local parent recalling how their child grew up visiting the restaurant. Others expressed sadness over losing their go-to spot for gluten-conscious goodies, while local business owners praised how McDowell Local had always supported fellow small businesses.
Quoting the 1998 hit “Closing Time” by Semisonic, the McDowell Local Facebook page shared, “Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” Excitement and support mounted in the comments for the Mathews’s next Downtown culinary endeavor.
Photo credit: Travis Peek via Google Reviews.
A New Chapter with Three Sisters Cheese & Provisions
Indeed, Aaron and Lauren are hardly hanging up their hats. In the closure post, McDowell Local owners revealed that have purchased the recipes and equipment from the English Farmstead, a recently closed cheesemaker company with six generations of heritage as a family farm. Susan English, who recently retired the cheesemaking business, will work the first batches with the Mathews, passing down the tradition with intention.
The community’s response to the new venture has been positive. Local fans and business owners are looking forward to seeing the Mathews family continue to please their palettes with more local-driven, handcrafted excellence.
Three Sisters Cheese & Provisions will be located in the historic Depot District of Downtown Marion, at 44 Depot St. This new space will serve as both a production facility and retail location, per comments on the McDowell Local Facebook page.
Foodies, Get Your Fix!
McDowell Local will officially serve last guests on Friday, May 2, 2025. Neighbors have until then to get their fill on dishes like the Titan Burger and Odell’s Fried Pickle Plate before the McDowell Local family sings “Closing Time” for the last time and this hometown favorite transitions to the next awesome chapter. Be sure to wish the Mathews well on their new journey if you see them at the restaurant.
McDowell Local has posted these opening hours:
- Tuesday – Thursday: 11:30 AM – 8 PM
- Friday: 11:30 AM – 9 PM
- Saturday: 3 PM – 9 PM
- Sunday and Monday: Close
Join the Three Sisters Journey
Neighbors can stay up to date by following Three Sisters Cheese & Provisions on Facebook and Instagram to get insight into the Mathews’s journey with sneak peeks leading up to opening day.
Keep an eye on the McDowell Local Facebook page for updates and specials in the weeks leading up to the closing date.
I’m not crying… You’re crying!
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