When you enter the Griffith & Feil establishment, you are tempted to walk up to stranger's tables and just stand and look at the pictures mounted all over the walls in the Soda Fountain. The Fountain is literally a step back in time: stools and chairs range in age from the 1920's, 30's, 40's, and one stool even dates back to the 1890's.
Some stools come from another of Kenova's landmarks, the Chatterbox, and some of the wire-chairs come from the old Yates Pharmacy, formerly located down the block from Griffith & Feil. The fountain almost has a living historical feel, with photographs documenting the fountain and Ceredo- Kenova's history. It is no leap of the imagination to think that residents can learn more about the fountain and the town's history than in any class that may be offered.
The actual fountain counter was made in 1929 and it took the removal of the front window and the hard labor of about a dozen men in order to get it into the store, where it underwent extensive repair - new plumbing, tiling, and glass fronts. There is a vintage telephone booth, the restrooms feature replications of the old-time box-above-the-toilet flush toilets, the bar-toppers date from the 1920s, and there is a working fluorescent juke-box that plays 45's. There is even a "Griffley" bear named Simp, bedecked in a costume for the appropriate season, who greets all patrons.
"Most people have never seen a Coca-Cola made from scratch, the way it used to be," says third-generation proprietor Ric Griffith. "I mean, we serve Phosphates made with flavors like chocolate, white chocolate, cookie dough and more. It really is a step back in time." Not only does the fountain serve delicious beverages, they have a complete menu and an up-to-date pharmacy, complete with drive-thru pick-up service.
If you ask the patrons why they love to come in, the aesthetics are not the only reason; many speak the praises of the owners, the Griffiths, and the labor of love that is their Soda Fountain.
Apart from the menu, it is the thoughtfulness of the Griffiths that shine through. For instance, upon completion of the renovation, Ric put in two brass rails just to help one elderly lady get onto the stools for the last couple of months of her mobility, so that she could fulfill a dying wish to be able to sit at the soda fountain again, as she had done as a little girl.
The Pharmacy has been in Kenova since 1892, although it has only been in the Griffith & Feil name since 1954; the current owner's family has been affiliated with the facility since 1921. Ric Griffith has been very active in his community, having graduated from Ceredo-Kenova High School, as did his older daughter; his younger daughter graduated from the newly-constructed Spring Valley High School. Ric is also responsible for the impressive carved-pumpkin display at his house in Ceredo each Halloween, which has been featured not only in local media but also on CNN.com.
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Ric's father, Dick, teased him about re-opening a soda fountain that had been taken out decades before because it didn't make money, but Ric's perseverance has paid off: with the highway restaurant designation sign going up, his business has also gone up, and now he has patrons from the entire tri-state area, as well as visitors from seven different countries, including Italy and Russia.
"I have had a lot of people come in just to say 'thank you' for doing the renovation," says Ric, with a smile that shows the pleasure is all his.
Ric says he should have the 2008 Pumpkin House ready by the weekend of Oct. 26th. I'll get over there and get some pictures. Can't wait to see how he outdoes himself this year!
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