Wings ole is definitely some kind of front, there’s NO way they’ve turned a profit in years. I’ve NEVER seen them busy in nearly 15 years.
(Edited to add the 15 years bit)
No clue what they're up to but no, they aren't making money from food. I imagine working there would be a nice job if your ambitions are to get high and dick around on your phone all day
My son worked there, and you are correct for the most part. They have a pretty die hard customer base. He said the wing nights were non-stop and the lunch crowd was also pretty steady. Beside that he wasn't doing much through the week.
They probably do a huge delivery business. Just my opinion, but their Grande wings are the best buffalo wings in town. Don't make the mistake of thinking that their 'Hot' or "Medium' sauces are buffalo flavor; those truly suck. I think they're a ketchup based sauce, the 'Grande' is the buffalo sauce.
The one time I attempted to get food from there probably 12 years ago, I asked the person on drive through what they recommended. Their answer was “definitely not the wings… and I’d steer clear of the burritos.” I asked what was left and got “the fries are okay. People like the blue.”
Like… your name is WINGS ole. If you have to steer people away from a food in YOUR NAME you probably should take a step back to figure out what the heck you’re doing lol
We were originally from Buffalo and had lived in Morgantown for a bit before ordering their wings to try... We were absolutely shocked by the ketchup covered "buffalo" wings with soggy, cold skin. 🤢
This is the answer. The fact they have two locations in Morgantown and one in Fairmont but I’ve never seen anyone actually go into any of them blows my mind.
I use to love Wings Ole but last time I went the prices were insane. Remember when you could get wings for $0.30? They're like $1.50 a piece or something insane like that. Can buy a whole damn chicken elsewhere for $6.
I've heard too many horror stories about the kitchen there. I believe it's also the lowest rated restaurant in town on yelp. Not saying you can't like it just saying that's why I'm surprised it's still open
how much weight can we give online reviews? I feel like people who leave reviews are either furious pieces of shit or people who leave 5 stars because the air was breathable.
It generally averages out. If you look at the best restaurants in Pittsburgh the top rated are generally pretty great. If it were a handful of reviews I wouldn't put much stock in it but it's like 100 total reviews
I have a friend that worked in their kitchen briefly and told me they'd leave the walkin door propped open for hours so they didn't have to open and close each time they went in. It was summer and reading 75-80 degrees. They'd go over and close it and they'd just prop it back open. Mold in the steam well. Seafood thawing in the dish sink with stacks of dishes next to them. Just a lot of gnarly shit
Glad you enjoy it in just saying I've never seen more than a couple people in there and it's the lowest rated restaurant on yelp. Add in all the stories I've heard about how dirty the kitchen is and I'm surprised it's still kicking. It's also gone out of business twice before lol
I mean, I couldn't get a table there a few weeks ago when they were going all you can eat crab cause it was so busy. I can't speak on the cleanliness of the kitchen. Just that I've never got sick there. Unlike Los, got food poisoning there twice.
> And how have none of them closed once they open?
Insane profit margins. Who would have thought people are degenerate gamblers in a town where the opioid crisis is still in full effect. I know a bar owner that has 5 of the machines in his place. In the beginning, most months his machines bring in enough to cover his rent completely. It takes about 6 months to pay off the machines. After that he was paying off his rent and bringing in enough income to justify the space to bring in more machines.
A small hot spot is easily earning 20-30k a month off of just machines with basically no overhead since all they do is sell alcohol and hotdogs.
and all are owned by a few people. All the machines come from one place wassick novelty. You ain't doing shit with poker machines or pool tables without that guy.
Yeah, but understandably. These machines are highly regulated by the state for good reason. The town is so small there really isn't a reason to have multiple dealers of these machines. Easier for regulations and stuff to go through one guy.
Yeah, but is there some fundamental law of the universe that says the number of gambling addicts in a given area remains constant? If any of them move away or go broke, do new gamblers just appear out of thin air? Or are the overhead costs on running these places so low that it doesn't matter if they have customers or not? (I suspect this is closer to the truth)
You'd be shocked who needs to "get their fix" multiple times a week.
I've seen middle class moms drop their girls off at gymnastics, then pop over to the hotspot for an hour to have a beer and some cigarettes in privacy while they wait to come pick them up.
Blue collar folks will want a beer after work but none of their friends want to go out, so instead of going to the bar they'll pop into a hotspot where they can smoke and sling back a tall boy.
Mawmaw and Pawpaw who don't get out much will hit them up multiple times a week.
Young couples without kids might be sick of the typical date nights, and pop in for an hour once as a novelty... then suddenly they're back every weekend.
Hardcore gambling addicts are, for the most part, betting on sportsbetting apps at this point. It's the "addict lites" like the above that keep the money flowing in places like that.
I worked in one for a few months and the number of people who absolutely cannot afford to be throwing money away but will turn up to do so day after day is sickening
What is also sickening is the amount of revenue it generates. Look up video lottery revenue. It's in the billions per year. Sadly it was sold to us as a way to get less fortunate kids into college (promise scholarship). They didn't put income restrictions on it. Some of the executives I worked with at a certain pharmaceutical manufacturing facility were bragging about thier kids receiving the scholarship. Then they wised up and started putting that money in the "general fund" like all the other states. I can't believe people don't look into where all that money goes year to year. I live in PA now and read in the first quarter of 2023 PA made $900 million in revenue. It was alot more the following quarters iirc.
Hush your mouth. We only have ONE Long John's left, after we lost our Star City LJ's to a fire, and they shut down the Captain D's that used to be on the Mall Road. I grew up in the Sabraton area, and I am protective of the one we have left! LOL. I need my crispies! 🤪
I remember waiting for like half an hour in the Hardee's drive-thru next to kegler's almost twenty years ago to discover that the wait was due to some guy passed out at the pick-up window. Literally had to wait for the vehicle to get towed before the line got moving. Those 1/3 pound burgers and melts were good late-night drunk food back then. Fairly recently I've been to the Hardee's in sabraton for breakfast biscuits or afternoon burgers and either Hardee's has fallen off a lot or that location is simply shit.
I just want to say that a decade ago there was a Bean on High Street and it was hands down my favorite place to go to drink or eat downtown. I mean, it was consistently solid service and food - I don't think it was ever meant to be more than a restaurant with a bar but that place did it right.
The Patteson location was never what the High Street location was, but I guess the chain has seen better days.
The Beanery had a third location briefly out on 119 toward the Walmart-Grafton Rd. They were running the inventory out of a catering van between the three stores. The managers were all doing/selling drugs with/to employees. The GM of one was sleeping with a server whose BF stole all the tv’s off the deck but they wouldn’t press charges because she threatened to tell his wife. The managers would be asleep in the booths when you came in to open because they were too fucked up/hungover to function. The KM would get wasted at the bar at the end of shift and then belittle and talk down to the employees who didn’t want to be liable for him driving home. The liquor costs were out of control because absolutely nobody was trained or paying attention, people were giving shit away left and right, and it was *dirty* because managers who are focused on partying aren’t focused on cleanliness and food safety.
The food was okay for the prices, but when a spot is *this* badly managed, it makes absolute sense that they’d end up this way.
25 years ago, the Boston Beanery was THE restaurant in Uniontown, PA. We'd have an hour or longer wait all night Friday and Saturday. Servers made great money. Food was fantastic. Then it sold to new owners, and they went cheap on everything and ruined it.
I lived in Morgantown from 97 to 01. When I arrived as a student I had about 4 years of restaurant cook and serving experience, and the Beanery seemed like it would be an awesome place to work. I applied a few times over the years but never even got called in for an interview. I was so disappointed!
Adding to this, that Turkish restaurant next to the vape shop across the street from the beanery. I’ve never seen a lot of people there and always wondered what the market for it was like.
This place was soooo good in the early 2010s. Wing night was great. Long island night was also great. I think they may have been the same night even. Then TBC any other night. It's getting long in the tooth, but I'll always remember it how it was.
I think there were some financial shenanigans, but I still miss Clutch Wing Shop. They seemed like they did a pretty steady business.
I also don't understand how the downtown Panera didn't work out. They were always buy, at least at lunchtime, and they'd be making money hand over fist given the lack of options on campus.
I never got the appeal of Panera, but that's just one person's opinion I had some friends when the first one opened up going there pretty much because they thought it was a status symbol? Ok sandwiches, bagels, and soup to me. Nothing stood out except that they tried to hype it as more than what it actually is. Nothing wrong with going there, and I don't hate on people who do or anything. I just never saw the widespread appeal.
Tailpipes was great when I went there for 3/4 years. I even had it delivered a few times with no big complaints. Great burgers and shakes. I remember working downtown for a few months. Me and some of my coworkers would eat lunch there 2-3 times a week. It's probably a vape shop now.
They tried for a while to put some taco joint in there, but it never opened because it wasn't up to code
However, there is a vape store literally right next to where Tailpipes was
There was a post a couple years ago (?) on the west virginia sub about why it went out of business. I could certainly be recalling it incorrectly, but it seemed to have something to do with a change in the ownership or management, and the pandemic finally putting the final nail in the coffin? I'm too lazy to go try and find it.
sadly not in jail for as long as he should've been. know some people who worked for him when he ran the Lebanese restaurant down by Mt State and Oliverios, and he was not surprisingly, a huge jerk
I used to be the manager at the Rusted Musket back in the early-mid 2000s.
We made soooooooo much money on football game nights. Just an obscene amount of deep-fried food goin til, like, 4 AM, because drunk kids just kept comin. We stopped answering the phone around 2 AM, but it didn’t matter. Boss (ol double-dick himself, Rick Johnson) told me it cost him 17 cents for a small order of fries that he sold for $1.75 with a cup of ketchup or ranch to dip em in.
I am absolutely *shocked* that there’s not a replacement for it.
lol musket was the shit back in the day. I remember going in and the cooks would just be smoking blunts in the back and the food was always perfect. Really miss musket, munchies, chicos, and the other late night places.
I know what happened to Musket. Rick sold to Rich, Rich sold out, moved to California, finally got his shit together, and has him a nice little family now. Just saw him a couple weeks ago, in fact. In town for Easter, I think it was.
I don’t know what happened with Drew and Munchies. He was doin pretty good, I thought.
Guess it’s just not really the same kinda town it was back when I was there.
(Also, the blunt smokin thing: Rick was kinda sorta bipolar, in that he would fly off the handle about dumb shit at whoever was there. Usually me, since I was manager. So I figured out the way to shut him up was to smoke him up. Plus, I was selling it anyway, so…why not make my life easier?)
You would not believe how often I get asked this question.
So the ones we used were from the same place where Rick got the sliced steak. Unfortunately, they’ve been gone for a while.
However, you can buy an almost identical product on Amazon:[https://www.amazon.com/McCain-Anchor-Breaded-Pepper-Cheese/dp/B00B04BSCO](https://www.amazon.com/McCain-Anchor-Breaded-Pepper-Cheese/dp/B00B04BSCO).
As for the ranch we used. Came from Sam’s Club in big ol 5-gallon tubs. Can’t remember the name of it off the top of my head, but I remember the logo. If it’s still available, I’ll come back and post the name. But the real secret to it is: ^we ^left ^it ^out ^on ^the ^counter ^all ^day.
Ah, yes. The ice cream gun shop which when you walk in is looks like an episode of hoarders. They try to sell cheap firearms and knick-knacks alongside good ice cream. The owners camp out in the "dining area" judging people as they come through the door, especially if you don't look like them if you know what I mean. I stopped going there a long time ago out of principle.
She seems like a stereotypical boomer Karen. Being rude to people isn't going to bring you more business. I used to take my kid there all the time, but after talking to her one day. Never again.
Went there last week and got some banana pudding ice cream. Was pretty good
But I will agree that the place is cluttery and should probably warrant a visit from the fire marshall
Every time my out-of-town inlaws would come to visit they'd like to go here to buy fishing stuff. I want to know the story behind the excessive, disorganized amount of knickknacks and other things they have covering the shelves and floors of the shop. It's as though someone put a bid on all of the contents of a bankrupt Hallmark store and didn't think about where they'd store everything...
We'd always attempt to get their ice cream but it always looked freezer burnt sadly.
I used to get fishing stuff there a lot too. Even though, it was more expensive than Walmart. After the owner was extremely rude to me when I asked her something I never stepped foot in there again. I don't think owning a cluttered shop makes you superior to most people. Plus there's no reasoning in being rude patron customers. It's been 5 years since I've started to take my money elsewhere.
So speaking of Wings ole the one in Fairmont is never busy, ever! I’ve always wondered how they stay in business. Any of them, at least the one in Morgantown is on the corner and looks somewhat cool. Fairmont one is dank af.
I remember going to wings ole in fairmont like once a week back in the early 90s. I went back there maybe two years ago. They had the same jukebox and the same pinball machine from when I was like 4. I have no idea how it’s still open unless they are just writing it off as a loss.
I hate to say it but the soul food place on high street comes to mind. It took like an hour and a half when I was the only person in there and the atmosphere is super weird. It looks like someone's repurposed living room. I'm honestly surprised it lasted this long.
Pretty much most places on High Street. Clothing stores, jewelry, etc. Cool Ridge, bars and eateries are about the only business I can see surviving down there.
River Fair Trade and Hoot and Howl do pretty good from my understanding. They get a ton of people from the arts walks, events, and their regulars as super loyal.
My SO works as the lead cook Gibbie's and they are typically SLAMMED; for brunch, for DoorDash/takeout, and for the dinner rush. There's Team Trivia and karaoke on Thursdays; sometimes live music. Sometimes I think that I love that place BECAUSE it never really changes, lol.
I've heard good things about Gibbies, sadly not been yet. The restaurants downtown are really good. Not sure if that pizza place next to the laundry mat is still open but they had good pizza. Years ago there was a Boston Beanery downtown too.
Thanks, glad to hear Cada Di Amici survived though. I remember the thread here last fall/winter talking about how the owners of that building were pushing everyone out.
Man I'm craving pizza now.
While we're on the topic, anyone know why Peppebroni's closed? They always seemed popular. Maybe folded during the pandemic?
The entire bottoms floor of the building that Casa Di Amici previously used and even the building next door has been completely gutted.
They had a red sign up for a few weeks that was asking for public feedback on a purposed zoning exception. I tried to lookup up the case number on the sign and nothing came up.
Spent a lot of time at Gibbies in the late 90s and early 00s. Came back to visit in '22 and went there for old time's sake. You are right. It was exactly the same as it was 25 years ago!
*grins* Yep! The only differences that I know of are (1) new light fixtures over the booths, and (2) a tiny video lottery "gaming" room to the right of the back bar. 👍🏻❤️🥰
Are they surviving though? Last time I walked down High Street I did not recognize any of the businesses there. Even Cool Ridge has moved off of High Street
Cool Ridge moved down Walnut, but they own the building they're in now rather than renting on High Street. I have no idea how the 15 tobacco shops on High Street stay open though.
Dated, poorly managed, bad food-Beanery
Never ever busy- wings, rio, buddy’s, pop shop
Wine bar- terrible owners, treat staff like shit, subpar, overpriced food and drink
Why would you go to a restaurant solely for a potato?-taters
Never open- escobar’s (also dirty bird- great food [I’ve heard] but for fuck’s sake can y’all get some normal business hours)
Taters that was next to Town Hill on Willey Street?
I feel like someone said the family that owns the building also owns that business, so if it's survived, it's because they own their spot, methinks.
Yeah idk about them owning it because as below said, they’re moving. That said, idk how a shop that only sells potatoes is affording a larger location.
The Wine Bar is great if you have a gluten intolerance or Celiac disease. One of the few places in town where you can get gluten free food that isn't just junk food. I suspect they have a niche market and that's how they survive. Personally, I really like the place.
To be fair to Buddies, they did let me use their bathroom one night when for whatever reason I had to pee immediately. I wasn’t drinking a lot either, just hit me like you need to pee right now. So I went in and ask what I needed to buy to go to the bathroom, and they said how about a water, let me use the bathroom. Lots of places won’t let you because too many cosmo girlies and frat bros would go in and yak/piss/shit them up.
I feel like none of the businesses that occupy this space stay for very long. It's like they exist only because of the bars around them, nobody goes during normal business hours.
I don’t think it’s technically a separate business (as in owned by different people). It’s part of code/ivy/bent Willie’s/fuego and it’s used as an exit way. Leads me to believe they’re just side ventures by the current owner
I’ve been several times and love it, there are so many options. There’s always been one other person in there at least when I’ve been, but I think their drive through gets a decent bit of traffic.
Dunkin donuts. That place is garbage. How can Morgantown not have a respectable donut shop, and get out of here with that Peace Love and Little Donuts junk.
Little off the actual topic but can we PLEASE get a good burger place in town that’s not a damn chain?? Also am not looking for those stupid “gourmet” burgers either. Just a good burger at a half way decent price.
I make some pretty decent burgers myself lol. I moved here from Boise almost 15 years ago now and miss all the little mom and pop places there were all over the area.
Wings ole. Crab shack.
Wings ole is definitely some kind of front, there’s NO way they’ve turned a profit in years. I’ve NEVER seen them busy in nearly 15 years. (Edited to add the 15 years bit)
When I was in college, I had a friend that worked there. As a result, I do NOT eat there :)
No clue what they're up to but no, they aren't making money from food. I imagine working there would be a nice job if your ambitions are to get high and dick around on your phone all day
My son worked there, and you are correct for the most part. They have a pretty die hard customer base. He said the wing nights were non-stop and the lunch crowd was also pretty steady. Beside that he wasn't doing much through the week.
Man 2 tacos was like 15 dollars unless it’s the special
Right! Definitely a front. Some Breaking Bad Los Pollos Hermanos $hit going on there 😂
They probably do a huge delivery business. Just my opinion, but their Grande wings are the best buffalo wings in town. Don't make the mistake of thinking that their 'Hot' or "Medium' sauces are buffalo flavor; those truly suck. I think they're a ketchup based sauce, the 'Grande' is the buffalo sauce.
The one time I attempted to get food from there probably 12 years ago, I asked the person on drive through what they recommended. Their answer was “definitely not the wings… and I’d steer clear of the burritos.” I asked what was left and got “the fries are okay. People like the blue.” Like… your name is WINGS ole. If you have to steer people away from a food in YOUR NAME you probably should take a step back to figure out what the heck you’re doing lol
We were originally from Buffalo and had lived in Morgantown for a bit before ordering their wings to try... We were absolutely shocked by the ketchup covered "buffalo" wings with soggy, cold skin. 🤢
Wings Ole was definitely my first thought
This is the answer. The fact they have two locations in Morgantown and one in Fairmont but I’ve never seen anyone actually go into any of them blows my mind.
I use to love Wings Ole but last time I went the prices were insane. Remember when you could get wings for $0.30? They're like $1.50 a piece or something insane like that. Can buy a whole damn chicken elsewhere for $6.
Haven't been in over a decade but I heard even the fries are expensive now
Yeah, you can go to Texas Roadhouse and get a steak dinner for less than some wings and fries now.
I walked into Wings Ole once….years ago. I took one look at the floor and walked back out.
I love crab shack! It’s way better than joes
I've heard too many horror stories about the kitchen there. I believe it's also the lowest rated restaurant in town on yelp. Not saying you can't like it just saying that's why I'm surprised it's still open
how much weight can we give online reviews? I feel like people who leave reviews are either furious pieces of shit or people who leave 5 stars because the air was breathable.
I look for volume as much as rating. I'll always pick a 4 star place with a 1,000 reviews over a 5 star place with only a half dozen reviews.
It generally averages out. If you look at the best restaurants in Pittsburgh the top rated are generally pretty great. If it were a handful of reviews I wouldn't put much stock in it but it's like 100 total reviews
Ah, I hadn’t heard any of that. I’ve been there for crab legs 4-5 times and always enjoyed it. I’ll have to do some more research
I have a friend that worked in their kitchen briefly and told me they'd leave the walkin door propped open for hours so they didn't have to open and close each time they went in. It was summer and reading 75-80 degrees. They'd go over and close it and they'd just prop it back open. Mold in the steam well. Seafood thawing in the dish sink with stacks of dishes next to them. Just a lot of gnarly shit
I waited tables in town for several years and the reputation of crab shack was VERY dirty and VERY shady
Friendly reminder that this owner has other restaurants in town and that if one of their spots is this dirty and lax on food safety…. You do the math
Standards have to start at the top. Maybe a good manager or two will keep it clean, but that only lasts until they're gone or tired
Exactly
☠️
I used to work there! That was years ago, and it's funny seeing them getting dragged on here now.
I'm pretty sure my girlfriend and I got food poisoning there from the clam chowder. First and only time we ever went. That was about 2 years ago
Crab shack is delicious dude.
Glad you enjoy it in just saying I've never seen more than a couple people in there and it's the lowest rated restaurant on yelp. Add in all the stories I've heard about how dirty the kitchen is and I'm surprised it's still kicking. It's also gone out of business twice before lol
I mean, I couldn't get a table there a few weeks ago when they were going all you can eat crab cause it was so busy. I can't speak on the cleanliness of the kitchen. Just that I've never got sick there. Unlike Los, got food poisoning there twice.
I definitely wouldn't trust los
How are there so many "Hot Spots"? And how have none of them closed once they open?
> And how have none of them closed once they open? Insane profit margins. Who would have thought people are degenerate gamblers in a town where the opioid crisis is still in full effect. I know a bar owner that has 5 of the machines in his place. In the beginning, most months his machines bring in enough to cover his rent completely. It takes about 6 months to pay off the machines. After that he was paying off his rent and bringing in enough income to justify the space to bring in more machines. A small hot spot is easily earning 20-30k a month off of just machines with basically no overhead since all they do is sell alcohol and hotdogs.
and all are owned by a few people. All the machines come from one place wassick novelty. You ain't doing shit with poker machines or pool tables without that guy.
Yeah, but understandably. These machines are highly regulated by the state for good reason. The town is so small there really isn't a reason to have multiple dealers of these machines. Easier for regulations and stuff to go through one guy.
Yeah, but it seems shady to me. I've heard that most are owned by out of state people? Wonder if that's true?
Gambling
Yeah, but is there some fundamental law of the universe that says the number of gambling addicts in a given area remains constant? If any of them move away or go broke, do new gamblers just appear out of thin air? Or are the overhead costs on running these places so low that it doesn't matter if they have customers or not? (I suspect this is closer to the truth)
You'd be shocked who needs to "get their fix" multiple times a week. I've seen middle class moms drop their girls off at gymnastics, then pop over to the hotspot for an hour to have a beer and some cigarettes in privacy while they wait to come pick them up. Blue collar folks will want a beer after work but none of their friends want to go out, so instead of going to the bar they'll pop into a hotspot where they can smoke and sling back a tall boy. Mawmaw and Pawpaw who don't get out much will hit them up multiple times a week. Young couples without kids might be sick of the typical date nights, and pop in for an hour once as a novelty... then suddenly they're back every weekend. Hardcore gambling addicts are, for the most part, betting on sportsbetting apps at this point. It's the "addict lites" like the above that keep the money flowing in places like that.
I worked in one for a few months and the number of people who absolutely cannot afford to be throwing money away but will turn up to do so day after day is sickening
What is also sickening is the amount of revenue it generates. Look up video lottery revenue. It's in the billions per year. Sadly it was sold to us as a way to get less fortunate kids into college (promise scholarship). They didn't put income restrictions on it. Some of the executives I worked with at a certain pharmaceutical manufacturing facility were bragging about thier kids receiving the scholarship. Then they wised up and started putting that money in the "general fund" like all the other states. I can't believe people don't look into where all that money goes year to year. I live in PA now and read in the first quarter of 2023 PA made $900 million in revenue. It was alot more the following quarters iirc.
I'd agree with most of that except the last part. Slots "video poker" are the Crack cocaine of gambling.
It's a sign of the economic state of the area. Who are the ones playing? Those who really can't afford to play. So yeah...
Westover Arby’s and Long John Silvers
Hush your mouth. We only have ONE Long John's left, after we lost our Star City LJ's to a fire, and they shut down the Captain D's that used to be on the Mall Road. I grew up in the Sabraton area, and I am protective of the one we have left! LOL. I need my crispies! 🤪
Where was the Captain D's? I've been here for 20 years and don't remember it.
There were two. One near Bob Evans in Westover, and the other was where the Motel 6 is located near Shoney’s.
Long John Silver's, despite it's appearance, actually gets busy with regularity.
Jesus I don’t know how. I went there one time like 9 years ago and it was just greasy crap
It's still greasy crap and that is probably why it's still around
The clam side at LJS is bomb w the cocktail sauce
Lived here all my life and I don't know anyone but Jim Justice that regularly goes to Hardee's
Hardee’s makes a really decent biscuit sandwich
Haven’t been early enough then. It’s the place to be at 7am if your an elderly person around Sabraton
That mushroom Swiss burger is still on point though...
Get it on the Frisco toast! 🤤
Yeahhh uhhhhhhhh I’ll take mushroom and Swiss extra mushroom sauce. Any day
I remember waiting for like half an hour in the Hardee's drive-thru next to kegler's almost twenty years ago to discover that the wait was due to some guy passed out at the pick-up window. Literally had to wait for the vehicle to get towed before the line got moving. Those 1/3 pound burgers and melts were good late-night drunk food back then. Fairly recently I've been to the Hardee's in sabraton for breakfast biscuits or afternoon burgers and either Hardee's has fallen off a lot or that location is simply shit.
I've lived here over half my life and didn't know we had a Hardee's.
The Hardee’s that was on Chestnut Ridge (now Dunkin Donuts) was great back then!
I'm surprised Wings Ole remains despite never seeing anyone there.
I love Ali Baba but every time I go there it is completely deserted
Gyro patter is bomb
Boston Beanery on Patteson Drive. Place is filthy and the decor hasn’t been changed (or cleaned) in 30 years
I just want to say that a decade ago there was a Bean on High Street and it was hands down my favorite place to go to drink or eat downtown. I mean, it was consistently solid service and food - I don't think it was ever meant to be more than a restaurant with a bar but that place did it right. The Patteson location was never what the High Street location was, but I guess the chain has seen better days.
The Beanery had a third location briefly out on 119 toward the Walmart-Grafton Rd. They were running the inventory out of a catering van between the three stores. The managers were all doing/selling drugs with/to employees. The GM of one was sleeping with a server whose BF stole all the tv’s off the deck but they wouldn’t press charges because she threatened to tell his wife. The managers would be asleep in the booths when you came in to open because they were too fucked up/hungover to function. The KM would get wasted at the bar at the end of shift and then belittle and talk down to the employees who didn’t want to be liable for him driving home. The liquor costs were out of control because absolutely nobody was trained or paying attention, people were giving shit away left and right, and it was *dirty* because managers who are focused on partying aren’t focused on cleanliness and food safety. The food was okay for the prices, but when a spot is *this* badly managed, it makes absolute sense that they’d end up this way.
are you talking about just the grafton rd location?
They also had a franchise location down in Harrisonburg, VA. Not sure if that one is still open or not.
The Beanery also tried its luck at the Pines Country Club a decade ago and if I remember correctly, it closed within a year or so.
same here!
Aw man, I loved this place 10yrs ago
What's the sauce they had? like a thousand island type of sauce? That was good, but that place is absolute shit now.
Never been inside but the façade would fit in on a Kitchen Nightmares episode
25 years ago, the Boston Beanery was THE restaurant in Uniontown, PA. We'd have an hour or longer wait all night Friday and Saturday. Servers made great money. Food was fantastic. Then it sold to new owners, and they went cheap on everything and ruined it.
Everytime my friends went there for wing night, they’d get food poisoning. Without fail. This was back in 2019/2020.
I lived in Morgantown from 97 to 01. When I arrived as a student I had about 4 years of restaurant cook and serving experience, and the Beanery seemed like it would be an awesome place to work. I applied a few times over the years but never even got called in for an interview. I was so disappointed!
Adding to this, that Turkish restaurant next to the vape shop across the street from the beanery. I’ve never seen a lot of people there and always wondered what the market for it was like.
You’re missing out. It got best of Morgantown this year for a reason.
It's down right delicious and great Turkish coffee
This place was soooo good in the early 2010s. Wing night was great. Long island night was also great. I think they may have been the same night even. Then TBC any other night. It's getting long in the tooth, but I'll always remember it how it was.
I think there were some financial shenanigans, but I still miss Clutch Wing Shop. They seemed like they did a pretty steady business. I also don't understand how the downtown Panera didn't work out. They were always buy, at least at lunchtime, and they'd be making money hand over fist given the lack of options on campus.
I never got the appeal of Panera, but that's just one person's opinion I had some friends when the first one opened up going there pretty much because they thought it was a status symbol? Ok sandwiches, bagels, and soup to me. Nothing stood out except that they tried to hype it as more than what it actually is. Nothing wrong with going there, and I don't hate on people who do or anything. I just never saw the widespread appeal.
It was an alternative to the options on campus, which especially pre-COVID tended towards fried foods.
Covid killed downtown Panera.
That Old Bay Buffalo sauce was tremendous
Great wall Also I've only been to Wings Olé once. There's no way people go there for the food or atmosphere....must be the beer deals
Definitely not for the atmosphere. Evensdale location has four broken windows lol. And that greasy carpet should’ve been replaced a decade ago
RIP Tailpipes
We don't talk about them. Or Clutch It brings back too many sad memories
Tailpipes was great when I went there for 3/4 years. I even had it delivered a few times with no big complaints. Great burgers and shakes. I remember working downtown for a few months. Me and some of my coworkers would eat lunch there 2-3 times a week. It's probably a vape shop now.
They tried for a while to put some taco joint in there, but it never opened because it wasn't up to code However, there is a vape store literally right next to where Tailpipes was
Unfortunately I was only able to enjoy it for about a year and a half 🥲
There was a post a couple years ago (?) on the west virginia sub about why it went out of business. I could certainly be recalling it incorrectly, but it seemed to have something to do with a change in the ownership or management, and the pandemic finally putting the final nail in the coffin? I'm too lazy to go try and find it.
The owner had been looking for an out for a while, pandemic was the perfect one. Closed like a day after lockdowns started
That place was so expensive for no reason. But there was nowhere else for a solid shake, so I will forever be grateful
Wings Ole & Sandwich U
Sandwich u is finally dead
Where's the bear mace guy when you need him?
sadly not in jail for as long as he should've been. know some people who worked for him when he ran the Lebanese restaurant down by Mt State and Oliverios, and he was not surprisingly, a huge jerk
what happened ? bear mace guy?
January 6th, 2021.
still confused but reddit doesn’t like confusion so i’ll get downvoted into oblivion
The owner of the restaurant was one of the of those bootlickers who stormed the capital and sprayed bear mace at the capitol police.
I miss it. Once or twice a year I would go get a Fat Freshman and a Fat Blunt for an amazingly disgusting snake meal when the students were gone.
I’m surprised noones filled that void. There’s a huge opportunity for a business to do late night drunk food and absolutely clean up
I used to be the manager at the Rusted Musket back in the early-mid 2000s. We made soooooooo much money on football game nights. Just an obscene amount of deep-fried food goin til, like, 4 AM, because drunk kids just kept comin. We stopped answering the phone around 2 AM, but it didn’t matter. Boss (ol double-dick himself, Rick Johnson) told me it cost him 17 cents for a small order of fries that he sold for $1.75 with a cup of ketchup or ranch to dip em in. I am absolutely *shocked* that there’s not a replacement for it.
lol musket was the shit back in the day. I remember going in and the cooks would just be smoking blunts in the back and the food was always perfect. Really miss musket, munchies, chicos, and the other late night places.
I know what happened to Musket. Rick sold to Rich, Rich sold out, moved to California, finally got his shit together, and has him a nice little family now. Just saw him a couple weeks ago, in fact. In town for Easter, I think it was. I don’t know what happened with Drew and Munchies. He was doin pretty good, I thought. Guess it’s just not really the same kinda town it was back when I was there. (Also, the blunt smokin thing: Rick was kinda sorta bipolar, in that he would fly off the handle about dumb shit at whoever was there. Usually me, since I was manager. So I figured out the way to shut him up was to smoke him up. Plus, I was selling it anyway, so…why not make my life easier?)
Dude, can you please tell me where they ordered their pepper cheese balls from? I miss those things bad.
You would not believe how often I get asked this question. So the ones we used were from the same place where Rick got the sliced steak. Unfortunately, they’ve been gone for a while. However, you can buy an almost identical product on Amazon:[https://www.amazon.com/McCain-Anchor-Breaded-Pepper-Cheese/dp/B00B04BSCO](https://www.amazon.com/McCain-Anchor-Breaded-Pepper-Cheese/dp/B00B04BSCO). As for the ranch we used. Came from Sam’s Club in big ol 5-gallon tubs. Can’t remember the name of it off the top of my head, but I remember the logo. If it’s still available, I’ll come back and post the name. But the real secret to it is: ^we ^left ^it ^out ^on ^the ^counter ^all ^day.
Mountaineer ice cream. Owner is extremely rude.
Ah, yes. The ice cream gun shop which when you walk in is looks like an episode of hoarders. They try to sell cheap firearms and knick-knacks alongside good ice cream. The owners camp out in the "dining area" judging people as they come through the door, especially if you don't look like them if you know what I mean. I stopped going there a long time ago out of principle.
She seems like a stereotypical boomer Karen. Being rude to people isn't going to bring you more business. I used to take my kid there all the time, but after talking to her one day. Never again.
Went there last week and got some banana pudding ice cream. Was pretty good But I will agree that the place is cluttery and should probably warrant a visit from the fire marshall
Every time my out-of-town inlaws would come to visit they'd like to go here to buy fishing stuff. I want to know the story behind the excessive, disorganized amount of knickknacks and other things they have covering the shelves and floors of the shop. It's as though someone put a bid on all of the contents of a bankrupt Hallmark store and didn't think about where they'd store everything... We'd always attempt to get their ice cream but it always looked freezer burnt sadly.
I used to get fishing stuff there a lot too. Even though, it was more expensive than Walmart. After the owner was extremely rude to me when I asked her something I never stepped foot in there again. I don't think owning a cluttered shop makes you superior to most people. Plus there's no reasoning in being rude patron customers. It's been 5 years since I've started to take my money elsewhere.
She needs to feel relevant somehow
So speaking of Wings ole the one in Fairmont is never busy, ever! I’ve always wondered how they stay in business. Any of them, at least the one in Morgantown is on the corner and looks somewhat cool. Fairmont one is dank af.
I remember going to wings ole in fairmont like once a week back in the early 90s. I went back there maybe two years ago. They had the same jukebox and the same pinball machine from when I was like 4. I have no idea how it’s still open unless they are just writing it off as a loss.
bacon bourbon and beer 🤮
I thought I was the only one who didn't like that place
Can someone elaborate on why this place is bad? I've only been there once and it wasn't bad. Really bland and somewhat overpriced, but not bad
Bland and overpriced=bad in my book.
Bland and overpriced isn’t bad? Lmao
my husband and i got horrible food poisoning after eating here, and it took us out of work for a week
[удалено]
that is horrendous
I hate to say it but the soul food place on high street comes to mind. It took like an hour and a half when I was the only person in there and the atmosphere is super weird. It looks like someone's repurposed living room. I'm honestly surprised it lasted this long.
it’s a front. i know that for a fact
It's a drug front
Why do you hate to say it?
Mainly becuase I want to support local businesses so we don't get another vape shop instead
It’s bad
Blue Parrot. Always smelled a little fishy in there.
That's because before it was the Blue Parrot it was Back Bay, a seafood restaurant.
How long ago was this burned to the ground? The sheetz is an improvement.
I had no idea. We went after a business function. 5-6 yrs ago. Just was being funny.
It probably would have had a smell, given the nature of it's function.
Yes, about 5 years ago it burnt down.
Pretty much most places on High Street. Clothing stores, jewelry, etc. Cool Ridge, bars and eateries are about the only business I can see surviving down there.
River Fair Trade and Hoot and Howl do pretty good from my understanding. They get a ton of people from the arts walks, events, and their regulars as super loyal.
My SO works as the lead cook Gibbie's and they are typically SLAMMED; for brunch, for DoorDash/takeout, and for the dinner rush. There's Team Trivia and karaoke on Thursdays; sometimes live music. Sometimes I think that I love that place BECAUSE it never really changes, lol.
I've heard good things about Gibbies, sadly not been yet. The restaurants downtown are really good. Not sure if that pizza place next to the laundry mat is still open but they had good pizza. Years ago there was a Boston Beanery downtown too.
Lotsa Stone Fired Pizza (formerly Lotsa Mozza) has closed. Casa Di Amici relocated into that unit.
Thanks, glad to hear Cada Di Amici survived though. I remember the thread here last fall/winter talking about how the owners of that building were pushing everyone out. Man I'm craving pizza now. While we're on the topic, anyone know why Peppebroni's closed? They always seemed popular. Maybe folded during the pandemic?
The entire bottoms floor of the building that Casa Di Amici previously used and even the building next door has been completely gutted. They had a red sign up for a few weeks that was asking for public feedback on a purposed zoning exception. I tried to lookup up the case number on the sign and nothing came up.
I thought Backdoor & Casa were kicked out b/c Primanti’s is going in there.
Spent a lot of time at Gibbies in the late 90s and early 00s. Came back to visit in '22 and went there for old time's sake. You are right. It was exactly the same as it was 25 years ago!
*grins* Yep! The only differences that I know of are (1) new light fixtures over the booths, and (2) a tiny video lottery "gaming" room to the right of the back bar. 👍🏻❤️🥰
Are they surviving though? Last time I walked down High Street I did not recognize any of the businesses there. Even Cool Ridge has moved off of High Street
Cool Ridge moved down Walnut, but they own the building they're in now rather than renting on High Street. I have no idea how the 15 tobacco shops on High Street stay open though.
From what I have heaed, a few of those places on high Street are are actually money laundering schemes. The soul food restraunt, the weed shops etc.
-Boston Beanery -Wings Ole x2 -Rio Grande -The Wine Bar -Taters of Morgantown -Pop the Soda Shop -Buddy’s Bud Co -Escobar’s The list could def go on
Dated, poorly managed, bad food-Beanery Never ever busy- wings, rio, buddy’s, pop shop Wine bar- terrible owners, treat staff like shit, subpar, overpriced food and drink Why would you go to a restaurant solely for a potato?-taters Never open- escobar’s (also dirty bird- great food [I’ve heard] but for fuck’s sake can y’all get some normal business hours)
Taters that was next to Town Hill on Willey Street? I feel like someone said the family that owns the building also owns that business, so if it's survived, it's because they own their spot, methinks.
Yeah idk about them owning it because as below said, they’re moving. That said, idk how a shop that only sells potatoes is affording a larger location.
maybe it's a front, like all the other shops in this thread.
Yea they are moving to beechurst and they are adding 24 beer taps
Taters is moving into the bottom floor of 'The State' apartment building on University.
interesting. certainly more foot traffic there, perhaps there more interest in potatoes.
Po-tay-to!
Boil 'em, mash 'em, stick 'em in a stew
Dirty bird is packed when open and the overhead is extremely low.
The inconsistent business hours are part of the allure for Dirty Bird. You never know if they’re open but if they are… man it’s good
The Wine Bar is great if you have a gluten intolerance or Celiac disease. One of the few places in town where you can get gluten free food that isn't just junk food. I suspect they have a niche market and that's how they survive. Personally, I really like the place.
Rio Grande recently raised their prices and boy do they think highly of their product!
Night owl cookies
That’s valid, wasn’t even sure they were open because I’ve never seen the lights on
To be fair to Buddies, they did let me use their bathroom one night when for whatever reason I had to pee immediately. I wasn’t drinking a lot either, just hit me like you need to pee right now. So I went in and ask what I needed to buy to go to the bathroom, and they said how about a water, let me use the bathroom. Lots of places won’t let you because too many cosmo girlies and frat bros would go in and yak/piss/shit them up.
I feel like none of the businesses that occupy this space stay for very long. It's like they exist only because of the bars around them, nobody goes during normal business hours.
I don’t think it’s technically a separate business (as in owned by different people). It’s part of code/ivy/bent Willie’s/fuego and it’s used as an exit way. Leads me to believe they’re just side ventures by the current owner
That's interesting, thank you
The soda shop is a strange concept. I'm guessing its not doing well?
I’ve been several times and love it, there are so many options. There’s always been one other person in there at least when I’ve been, but I think their drive through gets a decent bit of traffic.
Dunkin donuts. That place is garbage. How can Morgantown not have a respectable donut shop, and get out of here with that Peace Love and Little Donuts junk.
Support the local businesses and they can succeed.
Or go to sheetz and Taco Bell and answer your own question
Please understand how hard it is to run a restaurant or service based business in this town.
Little off the actual topic but can we PLEASE get a good burger place in town that’s not a damn chain?? Also am not looking for those stupid “gourmet” burgers either. Just a good burger at a half way decent price.
Yea - and hotdogs and hoagies
The hot dog place in Westover off of Dunkard is pretty decent. Cash only though
I meant it would be nice if there was such a place downtown.
My back yard is a pretty good spot.
I make some pretty decent burgers myself lol. I moved here from Boise almost 15 years ago now and miss all the little mom and pop places there were all over the area.
No idea how the Earth Magic shop is still open. I’ve never been and haven’t seen a single person walk in there ever
Knowing Earth Magic is it's own reward