In a sad follow up to my November 14, 2008 blog post entitled “Welliver’s to remain open,” I am now reading in the Richmond Palladium-Item that Welliver’s will close June 28.
As I mentioned in the previous post, the restaurant holds fond memories for me due to its epic smorgasbord, where every so often, my family would trek from Richmond to Hagerstown to feast.
According to the most recent article:
Welliver’s Smorgasbord Restaurant, a fixture in downtown Hagerstown, will end operations later this month, its owners confirmed Monday.
Employees were informed Saturday and the phone answering machine tells about the impending closing June 28. A sign announcing the closing also is posted at the entrance.
Owners Janie Welliver and Mary Welliver can’t keep it open without help, said spokeswoman Aimee Foust, who is Janie’s daughter.
“We’re in debt everywhere,†Foust said. “It’s not anything we want to happen.â€
That’s unfortunate.
This is indeed sad. I was introduced to Welliver’s very early in my Indiana residency by Hagerstown Libertarian Rex Bell. Dinner was held after meetings, which ensured better attendance.
Co-owner Dale Purvis passed away within the last year, and I suspect that has a lot to do with the closing. Dale was a good man. I had the pleasure of campaigning alongside him, and Rex. Come to think of it, lots of good people in that part of our state.
I’ll have to make one last gut-busting visit.
Sorry to hear Welliver’s is closing. Wish I could get up to Hagerstown for a final pig out also. I’m heading up to Mishawaka July 4th weekend for a family reunion but will be a week too late to make it to Hagerstown. I have memories of going there with my family for dinners. It’s a big loss for Hagerstown as well as for East Central Indiana. Interesting discussion on the situation with right vs. left also. I’ve gotten to the point where I don’t watch much cable news anymore, either Fox News or MSNBC, CNN, etc. It’s insulting to the viewers and the spin put on by both Conversatives and Liberals can never seem to find common ground to build on. We have a hell of a mess here in Kentucky also. Jim Bunning, who is up for re-election next year is allegedly not on speaking terms with Mitch McConnell. I didn’t make the Republican dinner last month or the Democratic dinner held last weekend here in Louisville. Dan Mongiardo, the Lt. Governor here in Kentucky, who was narrowly defeated by Bunning in 2004 is running for Bunning’s seat next year as is Jack Conway, who was defeated by Anne Northup in 2004, they are both running in next year’s Ky. primary. I don’t know Conway but met Mongiardo at the Kentucky Colonel’s Post Derby party in Bardstown in 2004. The Kentucky General Assembly is in special session also, they convened today, the big issue here is whether to allow expanded gaming.
Sorry for getting the years wrong, it was the 2002 race in which Anne Northup defeated Jack Conway. Northup defeated Tony Miller in 2004 and was defeated in 2006 and 2008 by John Yarmuth.
BTW tomorrow evening at 7:00 p.m. on NPR there’s going to be a program on Muncie as it struggles with the economic downturn.