Philip Rainwater
Chef
I am originally from Atlanta, GA and moved to Wilmington in 2014. I fell in love with cooking at a very young age, spending time in the kitchen with my mother and grandmother who are both two of the best cooks I’ve met. Their talent and food was the reason I pursued a culinary career. After graduating from Culinary school with honors in 2005, I worked in some of Atlanta's Top 100 restaurants focusing on local organics and sustainable cuisine. Upon my arrival to Wilmington I found a professional home and continued honing my skills with the Circa Restaurant Group at two of their local locations. The opportunity to take over as the Chef at 128 South and Bakery 105 opened up in 2018.
It was clearly one that I could not pass up. I have always had very special ties to the company and actually had my wedding reception here in 2014. It truly is a special place to me and my family for many reasons and will always be a bright light in our life for years and years to come. In my free time you can find me with my family, of course! I absolutely love spending time with my kids as well as strolling down the beach hunting for shark teeth with my beautiful wife. My children and our family are easily my greatest accomplishment thus far.
Katie Swain
Sales & Event Manager
I’m Katie Swain, and I’m honored to do what I love while helping people celebrate those they love. And yes—I really do just love LOVE!
As a wife of 22 years and a proud mom to three boys, I know a thing or two about managing a little chaos with a lot of heart! A “Natural Born Fixer,” I thrive on finding solutions, putting people at ease, and serving with excellence.
Since 2009, I’ve worked across the wedding industry, from catering coordination to venue sales. Over the past decade, I’ve found my true calling in event planning, bringing together my love of people, thoughtful details, and meaningful celebrations.
My favorite part? Getting to know each couple and working together to bring their vision to life. There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing all the pieces come together and knowing I helped create a day filled with joy, love, and memories they’ll cherish.
J. Rueger Houck
Operations Manager
I am currently the operations manager for the venues and our off-site catering services. I joined this organization back in the beginning of 2012 as catering staff and by the end of the year I was the operations manager. It was a good fit from the start but my experience didn’t begin here at 128 South. I have had many careers from construction to environmental engineering but throughout I have always maintained a job in the service industry. I guess I was drawn to the fast pace and high intensity atmosphere that occurs in the industry. In 2007 I discovered event catering and I was hooked. Here you not only have the fast pace atmosphere, but the stakes are higher because “there are no do-overs”.
With every event you only get one shot at it so you always strive to be flawless. No event is ever perfect, there will always be some sort of hiccup, but it’s our jobs to find a way to make your day as perfect as possible. One time someone asked me what my job entailed, and I told them, “My job is facilitating unforgettable memories”.
Meet the Owners
Mira Favor & JJ Khoury
Co-Founders & Managing Partners | 128 South & Bakery 105
For siblings Mira Favor and JJ Khoury, mixing family and business has been quite the adventure! With backgrounds in hospitality and a shared entrepreneurial spirit, the brother-sister duo seized an opportunity in 2010 and never looked back.
Alongside two original business partners, they opened 128 South in 2010, followed by Bakery 105 in 2014. In 2022, Mira and JJ became the sole owners of both venues and expanded their services with the addition of 128 South Off-Site Catering.
Today, Mira oversees business operations, while JJ focuses on sales and facilities maintenance—which, when you own two historic Downtown Wilmington venues, is truly a never-ending job! Both are equally outgoing and passionate about hospitality, but their different strengths create a partnership that keeps the businesses moving forward.
Of course, working with your sibling isn’t always sunshine and roses! They can fight like cats and dogs one minute and be sitting across from each other at dinner the next. But through every challenge, disagreement, and success, they always find their way back to what matters most: family, friendship, and the business they’ve built together.
While they’re proud of how much their businesses have grown, Mira and JJ will be the first to tell you that their greatest accomplishment is the incredible team they’ve built along the way. Their dedicated employees have been with them for years, helping shape the culture, service, and reputation that 128 South and Bakery 105 are known for today.
For Mira and JJ, hospitality has always been about people—and they’re grateful to share this journey with a team that feels like family.
