Virginia Tech quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer attempts a pass as right tackle Aidan Lynch (right) looks to block Georgia Tech linebacker Braylon Outlaw (left) in the second quarter on Saturday in Blacksburg.
Virginia Tech quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer attempts a pass as right tackle Aidan Lynch (right) looks to block Georgia Tech linebacker Braylon Outlaw (left) in the second quarter on Saturday in Blacksburg.
Chris and Jeanna Williams recently purchased the former Sunken City Brewery in Westlake with plans to transform it into a Nashville-themed dining and entertainment destination.
Jeanna and Chris Williams look over plans while standing in the taproom of the former Sunken City Brewery in Westlake.
WESTLAKE — After sitting empty for nearly a decade, local developers are planning to breathe new life into the former Sunken City Brewery building in Westlake.Â
JCPA Properties announced plans last month to turn the former brewery into a Nashville-themed dining and entertainment destination called the Black Angus Company. It would be the latest new addition to the growing Westlake community that includes several new businesses as well as a significant housing development.
The Black Angus Company is the brainchild of Jeanna and Chris Williams, who live in the Goodview area. Both have owned or operated successful businesses over the years. Jeanna was the former owner of the Children's Castle Early Learning Center in Roanoke before stepping down and Chris helped operate MW Construction Company with his family since 2004.
"We've always wanted to do something together," Chris said. "We've been married for 18 years and she's my best friend and we love being together."
While looking for their next adventure in life, they received a spark of inspiration during a visit to Nashville. The couple happened to wander into a Freebird store and quickly took notice of its unique atmosphere.
The venue is a retail store, full bar and live music venue wrapped up in one location. They soon saw the potential in bringing something similar to Smith Mountain Lake.
Jeanna said they also saw the benefit of including a quality steakhouse with beef provided by her family cattle farm Circle J Ranch through a partnership with Danny Wright and Wright Bros. Beef. The family's black angus cattle would be raised farm to table with those tables being at Black Angus Company.
Jeanna said they considered multiple locations for their Black Angus Company. They spent months searching around the Eastlake area of Smith Mountain Lake before coming to Westlake and finding the former Sunken City Brewery in August.
The couple connected with the microbrewery's former owner, Jerome Parnell, and he agreed to sell the location, which has been closed since 2019. The only loss in the sale is that the microbrewery will not return. The tanks will be removed to make room for the renovations.Â
Jeanna said they will keep the large tank on the outside of the building in homage to its previous history.Â
"The minute we laid eyes on this place, everything has just fallen into line how it needed to," Jeanna said.
In all, Chris and Jeanna's plans for the Black Angus Company will be transforming the approximately 8,800-square-foot space into a premiere location that includes the steakhouse, a lounge area, a retail space, a billiards area as well as a large, horseshoe-shaped bar. Customers will be able to move to the different areas of the building while carrying their beverages.Â
The couple is also planning a main stage where they can feature local artists as well as popular acts from Nashville. They would sell tickets for specific concert events at the venue.
The multiple offerings at the Black Angus Company would also allow Chris the opportunity to step back into a passion he had in a previous career. He previously worked as a concierge at the Hotel Roanoke and still considers it the best job he ever had.
Chris said he wants to oversee all aspects of the business from the billiards, to the culinary aspect of the restaurant and even assist with the bartending. Both Chris and Jeanna said they will be getting bartender licenses as they plan to spend time serving drinks.Â
Both have said they want to be closely involved with the business and plan to spend a lot of time overseeing the operation. They also want to be close with their customers and the community they have grown to love.
"Our goal really is not to make a big buck," Chris said. "We want to provide something where the community can come together and have a good time."
"And we want to come to work and love our job every day," Jeanna added.Â
In addition to music events, the couple said they plan to host regular billiards tournaments with the multiple pool tables planned. They will also have the stage and dance floor for karaoke nights and even line dancing as well as sport watch parties at the bar.Â
The retail store will offer items such as boots and hats as well as items from local artists, Jeanna said. There will also be a separate entrance for anyone who doesn't want to go through the bar area to get to the store.Â
The couple did not disclose exactly how much they had invested into the purchase of the property as well as renovation plans, but said the overall cost will be "multiple millions" of dollars.Â
"We are going to put quite a bit into having a top notch kitchen, a top notch bar, a top notch stage and production equipment," Chris said. "We want to bring talent here and have exactly what they need."
They expect construction to begin on the building in early January. Chris said the building is still in excellent condition so little work will need to be done on repairs. Most will go toward knocking down walls and opening up the building.Â
The goal is to have everything in place for a Memorial Day opening. The couple said they are even lining up a music act to perform that weekend.
"We are looking forward to getting the contractors in here and getting going," Jeanna said.Â
Jason Dunovant (540) 981-3324
Chris and Jeanna Williams discuss their vision of Black Angus Company, a Nashville-themed dining and entertainment destination planned for the…
Mule jumping is a popular contest each year at the Blue Ridge Folklife Festival. The festival returns this Saturday at Ferrum College.
The Ferrum College campus will be offering fun, food and entertainment this Saturday as they provide a look back at some of the region's rich history and traditions.Â
The Blue Ridge Folklife Festival is an annual event, now in its 53rd year, showcasing the regions history with a variety of musicians, crafters, moonshiners as well as events authentic to the area. More than 12,000 people attend each year to peer into that living history on display.Â
"There is just so much to take in in one day," said Bethany Worley, executive director of the Blue Ridge Institute and Museum which oversees the festival with Ferrum College. "There is the food, the music on different stages, watching the coon dog race across Adams Lake at Ferrum College and our living history farm open with those folks in period costumes demonstrating baking bread and churning butter throughout the day."
Worley said the the coon dog competitions are traditionally one of the more popular events each year at the festival. The dogs compete in treeing contests as well as water races on Adams Lake.
Other popular events will be returning once again this year including the draft horse pull and mule jumping. Worley said the events usually bring in large crowds throughout the day.
One major change for this year will be pricing to attend the event. In previous years admittance was $15 per person. This year there is no charge for admittance, but parking is $20 per car.Â
Worley said the decision was made to change the pricing to make it easier for people to attend. A large family in one car can attend for $20 instead of $15 per person.
"We wanted to make the festival more affordable for families," Worley said.Â
In addition to the pricing change, Worley said they are providing more arts, crafts and entertainment this year in addition to much of the living history on display. This year will feature carnival games and rides as well as entertainment for kids.Â
Worley said a tintype photo truck will also be at this year's festival taking vintage photos. Families will be able to get their photos taken at the truck.
While there will be more entertainment this year, Worley said the focus of the festival remains as showcasing and preserving the rich history of the Blue Ridge. Some of those skills showcased are being continued today, she added.Â
The Blue Ridge Institute and Museum will also have some events ongoing throughout the day including a book signing by authors Benny and Abe Gibson on their book on the vanishing schools of Franklin County. Their work has been on display at the museum.Â
The museum will also be featuring its newest display on the results of the recent Raising the Shade community program that unveiled the history of Black men in Franklin County that served as members of the United States Colored Troops during the Civil War. The exhibit will be open to the public throughout the day.Â
"People can come the fourth Saturday of every October and bring their friends and experience the best of the Blue Ridge," Worley said.Â
The Blue Ridge Folklife Festival is held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Ferrum College.Â
Jason Dunovant (540) 981-3507
Franklin County Public Schools Superintendent Kevin Siers speaks to attendees at a community meeting held Monday evening at Rocky Mount Elementary School discussing a proposed 1% sales tax on the ballot this November.
Franklin County Public Schools held its final community meeting on a proposed 1% sales tax on the ballot this November that would free up funding for needed capital improvement projects.Â
The 1% sales tax has already been approved in surrounding counties including Henry County, Patrick County and Pittsylvania County. Franklin County is one of approximately 40 localities with the referendum on the ballot this November.Â
"Our objectives are to increase the public's understanding of the capital needs of Franklin County Public Schools and to engage with the public about the 1% sales tax referendum as a possible funding stream to help us address those capital needs," said Superintendent Kevin Siers, who led the presentation.
Siers spoke to a crowd of around 30 people in the lunchroom of Rocky Mount Elementary School on Monday evening. More than half of those in attendance were either school or county employees.Â
Franklin County Public Schools estimates it has around $91 million in capital improvement needs within the next five years. Mark Law, who oversees maintenance for the school division, said many of the schools are more than 60 years old with features that are in need of replacing including HVAC systems, roofs and parking lots.Â
Funding will also soon be needed to construct a new career and technical education facility in the former Mod-U-Kraf building in Rocky Mount. Construction is still in the planning phase with no cost estimates available yet.
According to Siers, the 1% sales tax would be a way for a portion of the tax burden to fall on tourist and other visitors to the county, rather than completely on Franklin County residents. He said around one third of the taxes would come from tourist who purchase goods in the county.Â
"This is a way to share the tax burden with non-Franklin County citizens," Siers said.Â
Franklin County estimates that the 1% sales tax would provide somewhere between $6 million and $7 million for the school division to address critical needs at schools. Brian Carter, the county's chief financial officer, said the county would need to raise the real estate tax rate by more than 6 cents to get a similar amount of funding elsewhere.
Carter said the county would likely have to eventually raise the real estate tax rate to address the capital improvement projects as well as funding the new CTE facility.
There were some questions from those in attendance on whether the 1% sales tax could prevent future school closures like Henry and Burnt Chimney elementary schools a few years ago. Siers said more schools in the county may have to close in the future if attendance continues to drop. Schools can't continue to operate 40% of capacity, he added.
Siers said the sales tax could have an impact on which schools are chosen to close, if those discussions are had in the future. He said Burnt Chimney Elementary was not the first choice to close, but was ultimately put on the list because of its costly capital improvement needs.
Todd Martin, the Franklin County School Board's at-large member, told the crowd he supports the proposed sales tax, adding that the school division clearly has the needs. He said he would prefer having a portion of those needs paid for by tourism.
"Personally, I'd rather pay 60% or so toward this instead of paying 100% toward this," Martin said. "That is my 2 cents."
Jason Dunovant (540) 981-3324
A graph from a monitoring site showing the decline of Smith Mountain Lake's water level over the past year of drought, and the slight rebound this month. The blue horizontal line is full pond, a level more than 4 feet above the current status.
Water levels at Smith Mountain Lake, pictured in May, have created possible hazards for boaters who are not paying attention — even those familiar with the lake.
Following a summer of record-low water levels at Smith Mountain Lake, the popular tourist destination finally got some relief this past weekend.Â
The remnants of Hurricane Isaias brought several inches of rain to the region. It helped to raise Smith Mountain Lake nearly two feet after spending much of the busy summer season nearly six below full pond.Â
As of Monday, Smith Mountain Lake was listed as 791.04 feet. That is just under four feet below full pond listed at 795 feet.
"I've never been more excited to reach 791 feet," said Andy Bruns, executive director of the Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce.Â
Bruns said this past weekend's rains helped a large number of residents who have been unable to get their boat out because the lake levels have been too low. Many docks were nearly dry due to the low lake levels and others with electric boat lifts didn't have cables long enough to reach the low water.Â
"All we need is to get a couple more of those before April of next year," Bruns said.
Bruns is more confident that lake levels will reach normal full pond before the start of next year's busy boating season gets underway. He added that a vast majority low water concerns improve drastically once the lake reaches around 793 feet - about one foot higher than it is right now.Â
Appalachian Power Co. stated in an email that a significant amount of inflow from precipitation or runoff is still needed to reach full pond at Smith Mountain Lake. The power company, which oversees Smith Mountain and Leesville lakes, has limited the reduction of outflow in recent months to help in maintaining the lake level.Â
The Smith Mountain Project, operated by Appalachian Power, includes Smith Mountain and Leesville lakes as well as Smith Mountain and Leesville dams. Water that flows into Smith Mountain Lake through the Roanoke and Blackwater rivers is released through the Smith Mountain Dam into Leesville Lake to produce electricity.
Appalachian Power is able to pump water back into Smith Mountain Lake from Leesville Lake using the dam. As much as two feet of water can be pumped out of Smith Mountain Lake before Leesville Lake becomes full at 613 feet. Once Leesville Lake is full, water must be pumped back into Smith Mountain Lake or released at the Leesville Dam.
A minimum outflow into the Roanoke River is required based on Appalachian Power's water management plan approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The outflow is required to maintain wildlife habitats and recreation downstream.
Due to the drought, Appalachian Power implemented multiple triggers to limit the amount of water released into the Roanoke River from Smith Mountain and Leesville lakes. The company has stated those triggers will remain in place until Smith Mountain Lake returns to full pond.Â
"We will need continued precipitation for the lake level to continue to rise. Lake levels could drop again if we continue to see inflows that are lower than mandated outflows," Appalachian Power said in an email.Â
As the lake levels at Smith Mountain Lake are starting to improve, Bruns said he would like to see changes to Appalachian Power's water management plan that dictates how much water is released. He would like to see outflows reduced to match inflows once the lake level goes two or three feet below full pond.Â
Bruns said the low lake level over the summer had an noticable impact on businesses around Smith Mountain Lake. He said business owners saw a decline in customers that could be partially attributed to lake levels in addition to other factors like high gas prices.Â
Taking steps more proactively could help prevent low lake levels from having such an impact on the lake economy in the future, Bruns said.
Jason Dunovant (540) 981-3324
