Noble effort: Downtown Augusta restaurant closing its doors May 25 after nearly five years

A downtown Augusta restaurant with the motto "Where Southern Meets Unexpected" gave its customers unexpected news Wednesday.

Noble Jones – which serves its Southern-cuisine-with-a-twist in an atmosphere honoring some of Augusta's deepest historical roots – is closing May 25. Restaurant staff is inviting its devoted customers to spend one last Saturday with them.

The restaurant building was put up for lease May 22 on the commercial real-estate website Crexi. The property listing touts a "rare market opportunity to take over a recently renovated and turnkey restaurant with a large private parking area and a successful track record.​"

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On the restaurant's Facebook page, Noble Jones' staff thanked its customers for their understanding of the turn of events.

"This past year has been challenging with traffic and staffing issues, and as we move into the summer months, we regretfully won’t be able to stay open," they posted Wednesday. "While the restaurant will no longer be open to the public, we will still be available for private events and catering. We deeply appreciate your support and patronage over the years and thank you for being a part of our journey."

Chef J.D. Wier opened Noble Jones in August 2019 after a 14-month renovation of the former Cotton Patch Jazz and Blues Café. The namesake is one of Georgia's first colonial settlers, credited with helping establish the city of Augusta on the orders of Georgia founder Sir James Oglethorpe.

Marshall and Lisa Monroe bought the Cotton Patch from longtime owner Bryan Mitchell in the spring of 2015 and added "Jazz and Blues Café" to its name to advertise its reintroduction of live music. The Monroes abruptly closed the Cotton Patch in September 2017 "until further notice."