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PuTnam Progress 2013: Friday, March 22, 2013
1B
Putnam Progress 2013:
CommerCe WHAT’S FOR
DINNER?
Sholten Singer/The Herald-Dispatch
Vehicles travel down the busy State Route 34 off of Interstate 64’s Exit 39 in Teays Valley.
City manager makes case for more casual dining options for residents F
oming off Interstate 64 at Teays Valley is a hungry traveler’s dream — billboard after billboard announcing every kind of fast food restaurant, from hamburgers and sub sandwiches to tacos to fried chicken — and don’t forget pizza. There are at least six places in a one-mile radius dedicated to America’s favorite tomato and cheese pie. However, if those travelers want to sit down and eat dinner at a good, casual dinner restaurant where he or she gets served by a wait staff, they will find they have fewer choices. Hurricane City Manager Ben Newhouse said trying to convince casual dining restaurant chains to move into the city of Hurricane or Teays Valley was difficult because they believe if they have restaurants in Huntington and Charleston, they do not need to open another one in this area, which is about half way between the two cities. However, he notes that those chains have long lines and long waiting times for tables. “They’ve got huge waiting lines. We’ve written and spoken to 75 to 100 restaurants, trying to get them to take an interest,” Newhouse said about his efforts to get some of the bigger restaurants to come to Hurricane. Newhouse explained that when the big chains are looking for an area in which to put a restaurant, they want to know how many people live within a 15mile radius, the average income of the area and how much disposable income the residents have. In addition, they want to know about taxes, fees, zon-
ing rules and regulations, controlling land, land prices and financing. He said Hurricane also has a problem because of the town’s shortage of buildings. He said he had tried to get the Fat Patty’s restaurant to open in Hurricane, but it went to Teays Valley because of the lack of buildings to house a restaurant. Fat Patty’s moved into the old Shoney’s building just off the Teays Valley exit. “If we can’t have it in Hurricane, I am glad it’s in Putnam County,” he said. Newhouse believes with a population of 55,673, the county can support more restaurants. He added that 60,000 cars and trucks travel on the Interstate through Putnam County every day, which should add to the support of more restaurants. Despite the fact there are not many casual dining restaurants in Teays Valley, one thing stands out about the ones that are flourishing: They are either locally owned or, if they are a franchise, the operators are local. Along with Applebee’s, Bob Evans, Rio Grande, El Rancho Grande, Taste of
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Asia and Barnyard Barbeque, Teays Valley claims some great eating places. With a sign that towers over all of the other businesses on Route 34, Fat Patty’s, located in the old Shoney’s building near Hampton Inn, came in with a bang over the Labor Day weekend 2012, and has not slowed down in its popularity. Owned by Huntington resident Clint Artrip, the restaurant features a variety of burgers with fun names such as the “Lava Patty,” with red-hot grilled jalapenos, the “Not So Cow” vegetarian patty, the “Big Fat Patty,” which at 12 ounces is labeled a monster burger, and even the “Vampire Killer,” which speaks for itself. The restaurant also serves BBQ , sandwiches, salads and dinners. Fat Patty’s has been especially popular with customers, filling the parking lot and the road leading onto it. The Fireside Grille, which opened Feb. 21, 2011, is located at 4170 Route 34 beside the Hampton Inn. It is owned
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CARDIAC CARE DIABETES EYE CARE FOOT & ANKLE SURGERY
keY PlaYer: Jeff Barnes JOB: President/ CEO of Barnes Agency. Advertising, Marketing and Public Relations in Teays Valley HOW DID I GET INTO MY CAREER: “I started in hospital administration and then moved into hospital marketing.” FIRST JOB: “Loading and unloading 18wheeler trailers for UPS. Tough job!” FAMILY: “My lovely wife, Susan. My wonderful son, Trevor. My beautiful stepdaughter, Lauren. I am blessed to have them all in my life. Oh, and our shelter cat, Grace. She is part of our family, too!” SPECIAL SKILLS: “Communication. I never meet a stranger.” FAVORITE BOOK: The Bible FAVORITE MOVIE: “Gladiator” FAVORITE TV SHOW: “ ‘Mad Men.’ If only my wife would let me keep scotch in my office like Don Draper.”
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sTorY BY BonnY rushBrook/ The PuTnam herald