An idea that had been on the table for about five years became reality when the Old Country Store celebrated the completion of the renovation and drive-thru addition of the Dixie Café with a ribbon cutting at Casey Jones Village, Wednesday.
The drive-thru is located on the northside of the Dixie Café and includes two service windows in the building’s expanded facility, which includes a new front entrance for guests visiting the Dixie Cafe.
“I want to thank my family through this project … who helped keep me sane during some tough decisions and sleepless nights,” said Brooks Shaw, president, Old Country Store. “Lastly, and most importantly, I would like to say a thank you to my dad, Clark Shaw.
“Everyday that passes, I think ‘maybe he did have some idea of what he was doing.’
“I miss him more and more … it was his vision and wise planning that made it possible a long, long time ago.
“He made sure that we would not only survive … we would survive his passing but have the opportunity to thrive … I think he would be very, very proud.”
The expansion – which includes an additional 700 square feet to the Dixie Cafe – represents a million-dollar investment in facilities and jobs, the largest since the organization opened their newly constructed 4,000-square-foot kitchen in 2017.
The Dixie Café is attached to Wellwood Store, one of the historically significant buildings in Casey Jones Village. It was moved to the Village from its original location in Haywood County in the early 2000s, when Clark Shaw purchased the store as a tribute to his late father, his father’s generation, and the Wellwood community.
“As we get ready to celebrate 60 years next year, you may be thinking, ‘well, what could possibly be next,” Shaw said, “You ain’t seen nothing yet. I tell our team almost on a daily basis we are just getting started.”
Besides the drive-thru, there’s a daily buffet for those who want to sit a spell and have a plate lunch inside or have a plate lunch to go.
Business hours are 6:30 a.m. – 8 p.m., Monday through Thursday, 6:30 p.m. – 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday, and 10:30 a.m. – 7 p.m., Sundays.
(PHOTO: Ribbon cutting at Dixie Cafe at Casey Jones Village)
