By Tina Alvey
The Register-Herald
RONCEVERTE —
Rudy’s Corner Grill is always the busiest place in town at lunchtime, but with an extra 70 to 75 patrons each day during the Greenbrier Classic, the eatery is practically bursting at the seams.
Owner Mike Rodoussakis couldn’t be happier with the result of his restaurant’s agreement to provide lunch to the drivers of the shuttle buses that are transporting people between the PGA event at The Greenbrier resort and the designated parking area in Fairlea at the state fairgrounds.
“The company (Trolleys Inc.) contacted us before the event; they were referred by the state fair administration,” Rodoussakis explained. “We agreed to their price and got the contract. They plan their own menus, and we fill in with vegetables, drinks and desserts.”
The drivers eat lunch in shifts, to ensure there is no interruption in the shuttle schedule.
“We’ve been getting a nice influx of business so far this week, and we expect even more with the concerts starting tonight,” Rodoussakis said Wednesday.
Reba McEntire was scheduled to kick off the Classic’s concert schedule with a Wednesday night performance. Rascal Flatts takes the stage tonight, and Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley form a twin bill for Saturday night’s concert. All of the concerts are being held at a newly constructed temporary amphitheater adjacent to the fairgrounds’ west parking lot.
Although the bus drivers eat lunch at Rudy’s under the terms of the contract, many of them are choosing to return for dinner on their own, Rodoussakis said.
“They like the kind of food we serve,” he remarked. “That’s what they’re used to — a good home-cooked meal. That’s what they’re looking for.”
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Tuesday evening the bus drivers enjoyed the double treat of bowls of Rudy’s signature fruit cobbler and a short history lesson delivered in inimitable fashion by former Mayor Virginia Blake.
“I had to teach them how to pronounce Ronceverte,” Blake said with a twinkle in her eye.
A frequent diner at Rudy’s, Blake also offered the visitors instruction in the meaning of the town’s name — a French twist to the county’s moniker — “brier green.”
Blake’s daughter, Beverly Boswell, owns Wiseman’s Floral & Gifts at the foot of Ronceverte Hill. She has expanded the shop’s hours this week to accommodate the tourists attracted to the Classic.
Wiseman’s will be open from 9:30 to 8 today and Friday, and on Saturday from 9 until noon, then reopening from 5 to 8.
“We haven’t had any business from the tournament yet, but I’m hoping once the golf actually starts, more people will want to pick up a souvenir at a local shop,” Boswell said.
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Rebecca Sarver, owner of Rebecca’s Jewelry Box in the Greenbrier Valley Mall in Fairlea, said she hasn’t seen many shoppers this week who are easily identifiable as Classic-goers either.
“We thought if people were going to shop locally, it would be before the golf tournament actually started, when they had more free time, but we’ve only had two people in the shop who were definitely tourists,” Sarver said.
“Business last week was great, though — all local people.”
A display window to the right of the mall’s front entrance is devoted to golf-related merchandise from mall merchants Kmart and Peebles.
In central Fairlea, Vickie McNeely at The Local Diner said her breakfast business has picked up this week, especially Monday’s. She said the restaurant will maintain regular hours for the rest of the week — 8 to 8 through Friday, and 8 to 3 Saturday.
— E-mail: talvey@register-herald.com
