Published: April 12, 2008 09:06 pm         

New restaurant provides spacious dining

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS — When Telford and Melissa Scott decided to open a restaurant in Greenbrier County, they knew what type of food they wanted to serve, but had no name for their new business.

“We travel a lot and have eaten in a lot of places and one night we sat down with our family and started marking off names,” Telford said. “Once we had the name, then we decorated the restaurant to fit it.”

Thus was born The Mason Jar Restaurant, with its hardwood floors, spacious dining rooms and food ranging from hot dogs to prime rib, all surrounded by a family-style atmosphere.

“It’s a real family affair for us,” Telford said recently. “My mom, nephew, sister, wife and daughter all work here.”

Telford said it took only 30 days to transform the two large rooms which were previously being used for storage into his new creation, but “we had a lot of friends and family who helped out.”

“We could not have opened our doors without them,” Telford said.

The Scotts and their helpers also built a bar area out of pine that was cut at a local sawmill, but don’t expect any real alcohol to be served in the real mason jars that customers sip from.

“There’s no alcohol served at the restaurant,” Telford said. “This is a family atmosphere and we want people to come here and feel comfortable. That’s what we like when we go out to eat.”

Jessica said there’s food on the menu to tempt the taste buds of just about anyone and each Friday night, the restaurant has a prime rib special. There’s even a kids menu with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

“We have 10 different salads, pizzas, wraps, hamburgers, reubens, and a little bit of everything,” she said.

Telford hopes the home-spun atmosphere will attract locals to his new place, and so far the reception has been good. They opened their doors at 61 E. Main St. on April 2.

“Just give us a try; we have great food,” he said. “I am proud of the business we built, and we take a lot of pride in the food we put out.”

For more information about The Mason Jar Restaurant, call 536-5004.

— E-mail: cgiggenbach@register-herald.com