Wally's in East Ridge will celebrate 30 years in business next Wednesday, May 8.
Owner Glen Meadows said, "To celebrate this day we are rolling back our buffet price to 1989 prices. That day starting at 7 a.m. we open up serving our breakfast bar then add lunch and dinner buffets in throughout the day. The breakfast bar will be served all day along with the meats and vegetables. So all day it is $5 buffet and $1 drinks . Throughout the day we will be giving away logo items including our new 30th year anniversary T-shirt.
"We will have live bluegrass music from 530-7 p.m.
Mr. Meadows said, "This is our way of saying thanks to our customers. To my customers in East Ridge, North Georgia and Chattanooga, thank you for 30 years of allowing us to serve you. Hope to see you all next Wednesday."
Mr. Meadows recalled that 30 years ago he had been working at Wally’s on McCallie since he was 12.
He said, "I stood on a milk crate and fried catfish for the Friday night all you can eat special. Tony Kennedy owned Wally’s at that time and was a friend of my father. I was this young eager kid ready to make a dollar or two. Mr Kennedy took me under his wing as like his own child. He did not have any children. A father/son relationship started.
"I worked at Wally’s on McCallie all through middle school /high school and even through my college years at Chattanooga State and UTC. I graduated from UTC and thought I might should spread my wings to other parts of the business world. Just so happens that Tony saw an ad in the paper seeking a general manager for what was then the Country Place Restaurant in East Ridge.
"He told me I should go check that out. I did and learned pretty quickly in that interview that due to some family illness the business would actually be put up for sale soon. I came back from that interview and told Tony the news and from there a deal was struck. He and I established Wally’s in East Ridge. So here I am 30 years later.
"Several years back for accounting purposes we separated the two businesses. Last June Mr. Kennedy passed away after a tough battle with dementia. Today my brother Gary owns and operates Wally’s on McCallie and I own and operate the East Ridge location."