Banking on food and fun in tough economy

Credit: Tara Bozick

Co-owner David Long shows the movie poster and marquee from the old Park Theater now in Bogies Burgers. The Bogies name comes from Humphrey Bogart’s nickname.

By: Tara Bozick | GoDanRiver
Published: August 15, 2010

The idea for Bogies Burgers came after the stock market began its crash in 2008. Why not invest in local food and fun?

Co-owner David Long of Back to Bogies at the Comfort Inn had been thinking of trying a spin-off restaurant for the other side of the river ever since visiting Hamburger Joe’s in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

The idea was to create an eatery that allowed for people to sit down, kick back and enjoy traditional favorites like cheeseburgers and fries.

“We like to create an atmosphere where people can have fun,” Long said.

Long found a former McDonald’s building that had been sitting empty in the shopping center at Wooding Avenue. Staying true to the restaurant’s name, customers can find a “Casablanca” movie poster (displaying Humphrey Bogart) inside a poster marquee from Ballou Park Shopping Center’s former Park Theater.

More posters and marquees and an old movie reel from the Park Theater adorn the other wall space. The place features five TVs and something you won’t find at today’s fast food restaurants — a bar with stools where the old ordering counter used to be.

Bogies Burgers sells beer and wine and the menu is diverse, including fried bologna sandwiches, pork chop sandwiches and fried pickles. Customers can also order healthy items like chili, soups and salads.

The spin-off restaurant opened in January 2009, but closed for 45 days in January this year for renovations. Customers had complained about the old swivel seats.

Those were replaced with chairs and the ceiling and walls were darkened with mauve paint. Late last year, Long added an outdoor patio where customers could smoke or get together for Bike Night with a disc jockey on Wednesdays.

All in all, the Back to Bogies company invested about $150,000 to renovate the building. Now, customers can’t tell it was a McDonald’s.

Martha Tucker of Danville said she could get her food faster at Bogies Burgers than at McDonald’s, which always has a line to the road in the drive-thru. Tucker and her daughters have been coming to Bogies Burgers since it opened because it’s convenient to where they live and work.

A week ago, the Tuckers bought lunch for five people for $21 at Bogies Burgers.

Martha and daughters Ashlyn Tucker of Danville and Katelyn Tucker of Williamsburg all ordered the cheeseburger special — 5-ounce cheeseburger, fries and drink for $4.99. The burgers are “hand-pattied” fresh every day.

Plus, Martha Tucker, an assistant professor of Danville Community College, likes the service and how the servers call her “sweetie” or “honey.”

Long has yet to hear a complaint about the food — a first in his more than 30 years in and out of the restaurant business. He also added breakfast when customers asked for it.

“Once you come in and try our food, you will come back,” said manager Kathy Witcher. “Try it.”

When the weather gets cooler, Long is considering having karaoke on the outdoor patio. Long and partners Bobby and Margaret Marshall always combined restaurants with nightlife activity, like at Back to Bogies.

The first Bogies that opened in 1982 on South Main Street in the current Danville Women’s Care building also had a lounge and dance area. Bogies closed in 1995, but residents kept coming to Long saying they missed it.

“We were sort of sorry we sold it,” Long said. “We missed it a little bit.”

About three years ago, when the Marshalls bought the Comfort Inn, Bobby Marshall suggested bringing Bogies back in the empty restaurant space by the hotel. That’s where the name Back to Bogies comes from, like going back in time, Long said.

Additionally, it’s like a repeat visitors saying they’re going back to Bogies, he added.

“We’ve been able to incorporate a great good business with a great entertainment business,” Long said.

Where did the Bogies restaurant get its name?

Co-owner David Long wanted to have a restaurant with an old movie star atmosphere and mentioned Humphrey Bogart. Long’s wife suggested naming it “Bogies” after Bogart’s nickname.

Bogies timeline