Former Supermarket Owner Buys Southern Kitchen

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Former Supermarket Owner Buys Southern Kitchen

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Posted: 1:43 PM May 19, 2008
Last Updated: 3:01 PM May 19, 2008
Reporter: Anna Baxter
Email Address: anna.baxter@wsaz.com

8 comments

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- The former owner of Parkway Supermarket in St. Albans now owns the former Southern Kitchen location.

The historic location went on the auction block at 1:05pm Monday.

Former state senator Oshel Craigo also bid on the property, but Lee Lewis came in with the highest bid at $760,000.

Lewis says he plans to re-open the restaurant as the Southern Kitchen. He also wants to rehire all the former employees.

Lewis used to own the Parkway Supermarket in St. Albans. The supermarket closed in July 2006. He's 92 years old.

Delsie Mae Hersman, Southern Kitchen's longtime owner died last year. Her family decided to close the restaurant and put it on the auction block.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Pat on May 20, 2008 at 05:59 AM
To the post from Citizens: Lee still owns the building, but sold the "business" to the guy who eventually went out of business within a year. That guy raised the already high prices and people went elsewhere. Lee is the smart business mind in the family and he got out when the time was right. Parkway Market was making them less & less money. St. Albans has a shrinking population and is getting lower every year and didn't have a need for six grocery stores. Also employee theft was always a problem there. Hard to tell if it got worse.

Posted by: jackiemarie on May 20, 2008 at 01:02 AM
I am really happy to hear that the Southern Kitchen will be reopening. I was worried that someone would buy it and tear it down. I hope it will reopen soon, I cannot wait to have breakfast there again. (The best French Toast!)

Posted by: Citizens on May 19, 2008 at 10:24 PM
Glad Southern Kitchen is opening back up! Everyone wonders why Parkway Super Market shut down all of the sudden in July 2005. Mike Lewis and his son worked there and his daughter Dina Lewis sometimes. People thinks Lee Lewis still owns the store. Did the guy that didn't do well there just rent the store business? People said Parkway closed down after stuff was suppose to have been stolen.

Posted by: Mary on May 19, 2008 at 09:33 PM
Thank you, Mr. Lewis! My parents would take my brother and I to Southern Kitchen to eat when we were growing up. It was always a good meal and the people who worked there were always friendly and helpful. I hated to hear it was going to close, but am glad it will still be around for a lot longer, thanks to you. You also deserve kudos for re-hiring the former employees...what a wonderful gesture on your part...I know they appreciate your kindness...I know many of us appreciate the chance to eat at Southern Kitchen again!

Posted by: booger on May 19, 2008 at 04:34 PM
Good news! Glad it's going to be opened back up!

Posted by: Parkway on May 19, 2008 at 03:31 PM
I wish he would open Parkway Supermarket back up. They were convenient and had better prices and service than Kroger and Wal-Mart. I never could understand why he sold it instead of keeping the grocery store in the family. His son Mike worked all of his life at that store.

Posted by: Mike on May 19, 2008 at 03:29 PM
Great News. One of my favorite places. I know Mr. Lewis will do it right!

Posted by: Melissa on May 19, 2008 at 02:58 PM
I am SOOO Glad to hear this when the family originally closed this restaurant..I was upset and wished I had enough money to buy it I wanted to do the same thing...buy it, reopen it and rehire all former employees

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