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Whiskey River Bar opens

VIENNA – Mountaineer pride, food and drink style.

The Whiskey River Bar and Grill at 102 12th St., Vienna, has been open for several weeks and has already had several successful nights, according to owner Jason Wells.

“It’s always been my dream to open a restaurant,” the former oil and gas man said. “People seem to love the food.”

Pushing their West Virginia theme, the majority of the liquor and beer poured at the bar was distilled or brewed in the Mountain State. Wells, a Ravenswood native living in Boaz, said he hopes the Gold and Blue pride will illuminate to residents and the atmosphere will have them coming back for more.

“We try to make our cocktails (with the West Virginia liquor),” Wells said. “Another thing is we make our own sour mixes; we squeeze the juice from (fruit) for cocktails to make them ourselves.”

Well said he hopes customers return to his place for the atmosphere. He said the food, prepared by head chef Ben Mulinex, includes appetizers and sandwiches.

Much of the food is from the area, including local meat used from Parkersburg and a local bakery, which supplies the restaurant with bread.

“I have a lot of people to ask for advice and help,” Wells said. “Hopefully the whole thing brings people back.”

Wells takes advice from his girlfriend, Jennifer Fisher, about daily operations, he said.

The building, used previously as restaurants, received a revamp of the kitchen equipped with all new appliances.

“We don’t even have a freezer; we make everything down to the ranch dressing,” Wells said.

A dance floor and wrap-around bar give the restaurant/grill an atmosphere of entertainment and dancing. Local bands perform on weekend nights and customers are welcome to the stage, he said.

“We had a lot of people dancing the other night,” Wells said.

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