Bridges Cafe opening soon

By Lesley Jenkins
star staff
ljenkins@starhq.com

   A cafeteria style restaurant will soon be opening its doors to customers. A relaxing view of the Doe River welcomes customers to the new Bridges Cafe at 630 Broad St.
   The restaurant was expected to open on March 15, but due to renovation the opening has been postponed.
   The menu will feature fresh "made from scratch" food like fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy. Doors will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
   Jane Venter, Yvette Bridges and Ruby Malone will run the restaurant, which is owned by Venter's brother, Charles Bridges, a businessman from Florida. He purchased the building last year after Rustler's Restaurant went out of business.
   "We are super excited that we will be fulfilling a need in Elizabethton," Malone said.
   The three women have worked quickly to "totally renovate" the building, especially in the kitchen and the dining area. Since the food will be served cafeteria style, a buffet line was built and new chairs and tables were added.
   Venter and Malone have more than two decades of experience in business management, particularly restaurants and hotels. She says food will be served seven days a week with five to six meat choices, 10-12 vegetables, a large salad bar, and desserts.
   The items will be priced a la carte and total prices will vary based on the amount of food a customer chooses.
   The upcoming spring months will have many diners wanting to enjoy the view of Doe River from the deck, which will seat 30 people.