Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Eudy.
Hi Melissa, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, let’s briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
Though the Rosebriar has been around for 37 years, it was on Jan 3, 2023, that my husband and I purchased it. Once a vital part of the community, the restaurant had aged a bit. We aimed to revitalize the Briar and bring her back to the height of her glory. While we still have a way to go, we have done many things to get her back into the town’s pulse. We are only open on Mon-Fri from 11 am-2 pm. However, our catering business has taken off. Our staff often serves hundreds of people before our doors even open. We host after-hours events such as class reunions, showers, receptions, etc. We also cater off-site for weddings and parties. One of our most popular additions is take-home meals offered on Wednesday for pick up from 4-6 pm. Chicken alfredo, meatloaf casserole, and chicken and rice are local favorites. For $25, the meals feed a family of six and are hot and ready to go on pickup. Our small dining room, complete with clothed tables and a beautiful tin ceiling, provides a unique ambiance for our patrons that is completed when meals come on china plates.
Please talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned. Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Owning a business is always challenging. Personnel struggles come with any line of work. Owning a 1925 building is a difficult feat. I was in education for 19 years, so I do not have an entrepreneurship or restaurant ownership background. Learning about food pricing and food service safety is important for a strong heart, especially in this economy.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about The Rosebriar Restaurant, LLC?
Our soup bar is quite popular, and we serve two soups daily. We recently added a baked potato bar, a big hit! Our burgers, salads, sandwiches, and quiche are all top-notch and served with a side of our fantastic potato or macaroni salad. And, of course, when you visit the Briar, you must have pie! Gail Burris and her mother made our custard pies a raving success. I have added a few new flavors while holding to the staples.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
We did not own the restaurant during the Covid crisis, but as with every other industry, the lasting effects are apparent. What I have learned most is that people want to be heard. They discovered during COVID-19 that their desires are a fingertip of ordering away. Therefore, to bring them into our establishment, we must provide something unique that can’t be ascertained through a simple click.
Contact Info:
- Website: rosebriaralbemarle.com
- Facebook: The Rosebriar Restaurant
