The Avett Brother's Concert Image
Its finally here, the Roadhouse is having its official Grand Opening celebration this weekend! I can’t be more thrilled. What a wild ride it has been, and the funny part is: this is only the beginning. The past month has been a whirlwind of activity. Oven building, contracting labor, ordering dinnerware and supplies, trying to find used equipment and furniture, then installing, assembling, creating, organizing, sprucing, cooking, cleaning, and finally opening.
A month ago, I walked into the place, and there where 12 paint samples on the wall, tape on the floor to mark the floorplan, and a huge hole in the ground where the oven was going to go. I thought, “oh man, we are never going to get this place open.” but then very quickly, that thought was replaced with a new one, “we just need to get that oven built, and everything will fall into place.” As luck would have it, Jon had the exact same thought, and that’s just what happened. And what a fine oven it is, thanks to the talents of Jon Roberts and Ezra Brett.
As the oven was being built, Naomi (Scott’s wife (yes she exists)) and I wondered, “what needs doing that we can take on?”. As two moms with many additional responsibilities, we quickly realized: thrift store and online shopping. Naomi, living in Roanoke, took the lead on hitting up all the thrift stores on a regular bases, and acquiring great finds on things like: mirrors, vases, baskets, kids table and chairs, a vanity (for the greenroom) and much more. I, working a full time job, did most of my shopping online. We picked flatware, dinnerware, glassware, recycled paper products, business cards, t-shirts, and pint glasses imprinted with the D-Star. And the best part was when all of these ‘presents’ started arriving.
Meanwhile, the guys, made a trip to a used restaurant supply store and came home thrilled with all the great deals. They had almost completed their equipment purchases, besides the kegerator (which they were not skimping on). The equipment arrived with much anticipation only to cause thorough disappointment with each and every piece. What a rip off! Its the only major thing that has gone wrong. That said, most all of it is working now, after many phone calls and frequent repair visits, and we did rescue it from a landfill.
All of that was quickly forgotten with the arrival of the bar. What a beautiful piece of furniture. There is something truly breathtaking about this bar. The wood, the placement, and above all, it is the craftmanship of Benji Osbourne that makes it stand out. We briefly considered applying a poly to it, but no, one cannot coat something that raw, that organically beautiful, in plastic. So we have applied, lets see, probably at least 8 coats of tung oil, and boy does that baby glow!
These past two weeks it has all has come together and I have to say I am amazed at what people can accomplish with they work together toward a common goal that they are all excited about. The way everything has fallen in to place, piece by piece, person after person, everyone helping, everyone working, everyone laughing and crying and singing and dancing. How could the building inspector, the health inspector, and the abc agent do anything but PASS US WITH FLYING COLORS!
And the staff, I have to hand it to Jon, not once did he fret about finding good help. We have an amazing crew! It is a special place to work and they all believe in it. Let me announce and congratulate: Heidi as front of house manager, Bob as bar tender, Travis as Scott’s first mate on the the line, Graham as Jon’s private in charge of sound and mood, Sadi and Arlene our rising star servers, and Mike our dishwasher and MVP.
Friday night, June 18th, during the middle of a previously scheduled private event, Jon walks over to the door and flips the closed sign to open – its showtime folks. It just so happened that other organizations in the town of Floyd have spent months preparing for this very weekend: The Hundred Anniversary of the Floyd Country Store, The Floyd Town Jubilee and the Blue Cow Arts in the Park, where all going on around us. It made for an instant success, all we had to do was let them in, and as Scott likes to say , ” do what we do.”
Now, with the wind in our sails, the full moon to light the way and the north star to guide us; we have set sail on a new adventure. It is cause to celebrate, and this weekend we invite everyone to come an join in our both our bon voyage and our long awaited homecoming.
