Alexander Nicholson finished the renovation of The River Burger Bar in downtown Waynesboro, Va. right at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Virginia governor’s stay-at-home order. That didn’t stop the community’s enthusiasm for this new restaurant, however. when the Waynesboro burger bar opened for takeout only, they still sold more than 1,000 burgers in the first week. The River is owned by Mandi Smack, co-owner of other popular restaurants, Blue Mountain Brewery, Blue Mountain Barrel House, and South Street Brewery.
Before long, patrons will get a look at the freshly renovated interior when dining-in again becomes an option. The building dates back to 1894 and has had at least six different iterations as restaurants, each one built out over the last. Locals may remember Jake’s Bar and Grill and the Schooner as two somewhat recent versions. The Alexander Nicholson team had to demolish the remnants of all those previous restaurants and take the construction down to the joists and through four layers of subfloor.
Its new, modern look incorporates whitewashed exposed brick, antique barn wood siding, and a fully restored, original tin ceiling.
Job superintendent Garrett Irwin said, “In the kitchen, the original builders had used leftover materials from the tin ceiling to protect the walls. We were able to delicately remove that preserved tin and use it to patch the ceiling and bring it back to its original glory.”
Vast improvements were made to the original bathroom facilities, expanding the rooms and adding sinks (instead of the previous design which was a communal sink outside the restrooms). New electric and plumbing were added, as well.
A signature feature of the new restaurant is a live-edge mahogany bar with a “river” of stones and clear epoxy running through it.
Alexander Nicholson completed the job in under 90 days, bringing the owner’s vision to life, just as she imagined it. Order online for now, and visit in the future, The River Burger Bar, 137 North Wayne Avenue, Waynesboro, Va.
