Down on Mainstreet: 20 Years of Great Food & Good Times

When Glenn and Ginnia Weatherington started Down on Mainstreet twenty years ago, they never dreamed it would be in business this long. Glenn remembers, "Everybody told us we were crazy to embark on this venture because we had no restaurant experience. I told them ‘If you serve people cold beer, good food, and show them a good time, they’ll come’."

He wasn’t wrong. What started out as just wanting to open a place that could give folks a casual spot to have a drink and a good meal, turned into a years-long endeavor that locals and visitors both enjoy.

For seventeen years the Weatheringtons served hungry patrons that wanted a casual, laid-back place that they could go to for lunch, after work, or take the whole family to for dinner. Their menu, always the same, always unpretentious good food kept people coming back.

After having established the business as a place people could count on, and serving customers for seventeen years, they decided it was time to sell it and pass the chef’s torch to someone else. But the Weatheringtons were not interested in selling to just anyone. They wanted a buyer that would show as much love as that had for the restaurant over the years.

Enter Lee and Marina Wood. Marina worked at DOM for several years. When the business was up for sale, the Woods were all in for purchasing. Marina says "I had to talk him into it a bit, but he knew it was a great thing for us to take on."

Her husband, Lee, who owns a local construction company, actually met Marina when she was working at the restaurant. Lee says he was a customer and kept asking her out. "I kept asking her out when I came here to eat, and she finally agreed to go out with me. There was even a local customer that told her to give a chance. {laughs} We ended up married, and now we own this awesome restaurant together."

Lee says when they decided to buy Down on Mainstreet, they knew they had to keep the same menu and the same friendly atmosphere. "We took over something that was a well-oiled machine and didn’t change anything.

"Most of our staff has worked here for years. We have servers and cooks that have been here for 18 years. It’s common for someone to come out of the kitchen and have a heart to heart conversation with the customers. That’s the family vibe we have here."

When asked about the longevity of the business, the Woods cite a couple of reasons. "Our awesome staff. They are friendly and don’t know a stranger. Also, we keep the same menu. People know what to expect and they know it’s consistent. We change up the weekend specials, but our regular menu stays the same."

The Woods are excited about celebrating 20 years of Down on Mainstreet. The celebration is planned for March 8th. The entire parking lot in the back of the patio will be sectioned off, with live music, giveaways, and a plethora of special beverages.

For more information and other events happening in Washington, go to visitwashingtonnc.com.