Making the Rounds: Parkersburg’s North End Tavern still raising the bar after 125 years
PARKERSBURG — The North End Tavern, a local institution for many people, is celebrating its 125th anniversary.
Established in 1899, the tavern has been a staple in the community, especially for owner Joe Roedersheimer who bought North End Tavern & Brewery 47 years ago. He now owns it with his son Chip and head brewer Chris Hopkins.
“It has been one of the longest living traditional places that has been in Parkersburg,” he said. “It has gone from a neighborhood blue-collar corner tavern to more of a family-style restaurant.
“It is the oldest tavern in the state of West Virginia and the oldest brewery, which we put in 1997. It has definitely got some history.”
Roedersheimer said he was told that back in 1959 when John F. Kennedy was running for president and visited Parkersburg that he and his brother, Robert (Bobby), stopped in and had a beer with some of the locals. Other presidents who have driven by on their way into Parkersburg including Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush.
Rush Limbaugh had come in at one point and many sports personalities over the years.
The establishment, known as the NET, is not only well known in Parkersburg, but the entire North End.
“I always called the North End the best little hamlet in the state of West Virginia,” Roedersheimer said of being able to find anything there. “There is everything here from churches to restaurants, haircuts, gas, grocery stores.
“It has its own personality all by itself.”
Roedersheimer said Parkersburg is a close knit community that is a great place to live and raise a family.
“We have been a part of a lot of things that have gone on here in town,” he said, adding he was president of the transit board, served on the tourism board, the YMCA board and coached and taught school locally.
“We have a lot of background history here in Parkersburg and we want to keep it that way too,” he said.
They opened Stillworks Distillery two years ago and it has been well received. They have had products in the state liquor stores, including gin and vodka. They are looking to be distributing the whiskey in a year and a half.
He said there are still some people who are hesitant to come to the NET because it is a “tavern.”
However, Roedersheimer said many of those people go to some of the upper-end chain restaurants in the area where they serve a variety of alcoholic beverages.
“If they would come in and see what we are about, I don’t think they would be so concerned,” he said.
Roedersheimer said he has had family work at the business for years. Chip has been with the business for 15 years. His nephew, Nick, has been working there for three years learning the business as well.
“The goal is for them to eventually take it over and keep it in the family,” Roedersheimer said.
Hopkins has been with the business for 20 years and remains an important part of its success.
“We are proud of the business,” Roedersheimer said as a couple of car alarms started going off.
“Now we are celebrating,” he said, laughing.
They rely a lot on word-of-mouth to let people know what is happening at the NET.
“This place is well known across the state of West Virginia,” Roedersheimer said, adding they have won awards for their food and beer making.
North Central Distributing distributes their beer across the state. They do well with their Roedy’s Red and West Virginia Wheat and Doc’s Porter beers.
Hopkins said they are offering a locally produced product that creates jobs in the area and is something that is unique to this area.
“It gives people something that is a little different than your mainstream beers,” he said. “The locally produced ales and lagers and liquors are becoming more popular all around the country.
“It is a way to have something produced locally, seasonal beers and different flavors that will create interest from both people from out of town and many of the locals who come here on a regular basis.”
Sales locally and across the state through distributing have been good, Hopkins said.
“There is quite a bit of demand for it,” he said.
Roedersheimer said a lot of the history came down from stories passed down by many locals who regularly came to the tavern. There are stories it was a speakeasy during Prohibition and ran moonshine at the time.
As for the future, Roedersheimer said they are going to continue to stick with what is working. They will always make adjustments to and expand the menu.
“I think one of the reasons we have been successful is I don’t think we over compete with anyone. We have found our niche and I think we are going to stick with it.”
Nick said they are just trying to keep the tradition going with hard work and dedication.
“We take a lot of pride in the place and we take a lot of pride in our community,” he said. “We want to keep serving people and keep giving back.
“We treat the community like a family.”
Joe Roedersheimer said he just wants people to try them out.
“We hope people come out and see what we are really all about,” he said. “I think since we are a local institution we would love for people to come and try us out.
“I think the ones who have never been here before will come back.”
Brett Dunlap can be reached at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com