Roy's Grill officially open to the public

Monday, January 24, 2011

photo Staff Photo by Allison Carter/Chattanooga Times Free Press - Jan 24, 2011 - Monday afternoon Dana Davis eats a hamburger from Roy's Grill, in Rossville, Ga. Today was the first day of business for the redesigned, diner themed restaurant.

ROSSVILLE, Ga. - Roy's Grill officially opened to the public at 6 a.m. this morning and was standing room only by noon.

Diners ate and reminisced about the restaurant's history while the staff worked feverishly to keep up with the demand for waffles, burgers and chicken salad sandwiches.

"I remember when Roy used to stand right there," said Hearshel Dixon, 74, of Rossville, as he waited for a ham sandwich. "It's a little different, but it looks good."

Troy Potter, whose father Wayne had the idea to redo the restaurant, located right across the state line on U.S. 27, said they open the place up for invitation-only guests over the weekend and got a glimpse at the demand for onion rings and Roy's burgers.

"We were busting at the seams," he said.

The diner sits about 44 customers at a time.

The Potters bought the building from the City of Rossville for $50,000 in October and city leaders see its reopening as a key to revitalizing downtown.

For complete details, see tomorrow's Times Free Press.