For years it was called the Mecca Grill—a pool hall, a bar, a place to gather. It was a well-known staple in downtown Washington.

But recently, Mecca Grill has thrown off its old identity and now operates under the new name No Wake Zone Grill.

Residents shouldn’t worry though; it’s under the same ownership and still has the same great food, according to Danielle Hunnings, who runs the restaurant along with her husband Michael.

Hunnings said they wanted to get rid of what she calls the “pool hall stigma” and instead focus on fresh, quality food.

The couple still wants the restaurant to be a casual, friendly dining experience, but they are working on reinventing its character, she said.

Among the changes have been the addition of 49 items to the menu and new nautical décor, and eventually, the owners want to purchase new tables and completely close off the kitchen area.

Hunnings said the restaurant now has a new, nautical-themed logo, which speaks to the couple’s style, and T-shirts with the new design sold quickly when they first debuted. Several customers also donated décor, which is now included in the restaurant, she said.

“I know the Mecca has been a staple,” Hunnings said. “We didn’t take anything away.”

“I feel like we’re not going to lose anyone who comes here every day,” she said.

Michael Hunnings said he came up with the new name, almost by accident, while watching television one night.

He recalled the restaurant’s location along a “no wake zone” in Washington and knew that name would fit perfectly with the nautical theme. According to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, a “no wake zone” is an area in which boats have to travel at slow speeds to avoid hazards. Washington’s “no wake zone” along the Pamlico River is between the U.S. Highway 17 bridge and railroad trestle.

“Out of the blue, it just kind of dawned on me,” Hunnings said. “Pretty much everybody has kind of embraced the change.”

“It’s our personality,” Danielle Hunnings said of the new look. “It’s got a symbolic meaning, I feel like.”

These changes have been in the works for a while, as the couple decided to repaint the walls, redo a lot of the flooring and renovate the bathrooms back in 2013. The kitchen also had a large-scale renovation in 2006, about two years after Michael Hunnings bought the business in 2004.

Danielle Hunnings said one of their main projects in the works now is an upcoming catering partnership with the Belle of Washington.

“I think it’s going to be a good symbiotic relationship,” she said. “Thankfully we do, you know, have a very good clientele. … I think it’ll help them and it’ll definitely help us.”

But most importantly, the couple wants to ensure the community embraces the new outlook of No Wake Zone Grill.

“We’ve had more positive feedback than negative,” Michael Hunnings said.

He said the dedicated staff members have played a large role in the restaurant’s success, and the couple has actually seen business pick up since the name change.

“I think that just speaks volumes,” Danielle Hunnings said. “We’re really thankful for that.”