04/27/2014
Breaking news about River Rock, its future and rumors. Well here is the update about this season. The rebuild of our little place started back in January. It is almost complete. Over the past three years we have found all the issues of RRB&G and the majority was layout and space. This allowed me to design the floor plan for the prints that is now the new restaurant. The team that the owners assembled stayed true to my plans (for the most part) things that were changed were done for efficiency and simplicity. It has grown from a capacity of approx. 110 to approx. 250. This has given the owners the opportunity to move the marina into more of a resort like atmosphere that includes rebranding the restaurant (to purposed "Lake House Grill" with a projected opening date of Friday May 16th) and more in line with the overall planned development. Unfortunately this does not include Debbie or myself. They are bringing in an experienced team of industry professionals to run the operation. So between the rebuild and a experienced management team this should translate to even better service than we have ever been able to provide. This is obviously a sad time for us, we love River Rock. Since we opened the biggest payoff for us has not been financial, it has been turning strangers into friends and friends into family. The last three years have been a dream come true for us, and love you all for your patience and loyalty. Now to address some rumors that we have heard. The menu…. I am not sure what the menu is going to be however I don't believe that it will change much from last year, for this season I have faith that it might even be better. Pricing…….As everyone knows prices change all the time. Even if we were running the grill this year we would have had to raise prices on most of the menu. I am certain that the pricing on the new menu will be higher, but I am also sure that the new team will minimize price increases as much as possible. Entertainment………once again we are not sure as to if they are or when the entertainment will be available. Please show the grill and resort the same respect that you have shown us during our tenure. As for us personally, Debbie has already found work in the financial sector, Allison has moved to Nashville and is looking forward to coming back for some wake boarding, and as always I have a few things in the works. So no need to worry about us. I will let you in on a secrete when we took over the grill, I told Debbie that I only wanted to (daily) management the restaurant for four to five years because the amount of hours that any restaurant takes. And believe me when I tell you having put in 100 to 110 hours a week like we have in the past it will wear you down. We have so many people to thank that this post would read like an old Webster's Dictionary (remember those). So we will lump them together, first off to ALL the former staff of the last three seasons, thank you for dealing with some of the most trying conditions around (you remember running to the maintenance building several times a day to get supplies and the basement of cabin one for additional product, and a tiny kitchen where the temp ran so high that the burgers could have cooked themselves without a grill). Thanks to the most important part of our success - our Patrons, Friends, & Family…… Yes I mean all 2300 of you River Rock Rats!!!! Without you, your input (good & bad) we would never have made it what it became. You are the reason that the grill was what it was and what it has become. You are the ones that have shown me (a big-city boy) what a community is. The future of River Rock Bar & Grill lies in our hands. Currently there are no "on water" opportunities available for us to hang our shingle. There are two spots as you all know on this end of the lake The one at Sequoyah Resort and the one at Tellico Harbor Marina, they are both taken for this season, however my experience in the community says that there just might be room from one more. "River Rock Bar & Grill 2015" maybe only time will tell. We have no intensions of shutting down this page so that y'all can post your photos and comments about RRB&G. In closing just want to tell you all that Debbie and I now have time to take you up on the hundreds of boating invitations that we have received over the last few years. Smile, cheer up, and stay the course we are bound to experience this new adventure together. And please keep an eye out for Debbie and I around town, at the lake or the "Lake House Grill", I WILL BE THE ONE WEARING THE RIVER ROCK BAR & GRILL TEESHIRT!!!!! Please stay posted on our future ventures.
Love, Manny, Debbie & Allison
