Newspaper Page Text
Athens’ ‘Greasy V’ soon to add drive-thru, breakfast !
By ALISA WALDROP
KW iwt nu< k Man wntar
Carl l/ee Lett, Jr. In the Varsity’s kitchen
Since 1*3* the cry "dog walkin and a Frosty 0” has been a
familiar one to the people of Athens This is music to the ears
of those whose palates prefer the less refined dining of the
Varsity Drive-In. also affectionately known as the "Greasy
V.”
Soon the popular establishment will add a drive-thru
service and a breakfast menu
The Varsity has been a popular spot since the opening of
It's downtown restaurant in 1938 It moved to its present
location on Broad Street in 1983. while still under the original
management Today, the Varsity still holds wide appeal with
most aify type of Athenian or visitor to the Classic City, but
even local institutions must change
A new face now dons the bright red paper beret of the
Varsity Wilson Elder, formally of the Athens Area Chamber
of Commerce, now manages the local burger stand where he
spent many high school weekend nights downing french fries
and hot dogs with his buddies
No stranger to the Varsity. Elder grew up in Athens and
still tells of many memories he made at the "V."
"When I was a kid, my dad used to take me here, and we
would get a box to take home, he said. "It was kind of a once a
week ritual in my family."
Elder also remembers the days when curb hops brought
those distinctive Varsity burgers and onion rings to the cars
"When I was in high school. 1 spent a lot of time here at the
curbs. It was our gathering place back then," he said
So with all these stories to tell about the old Varsity
tradition, why is Elder now installing a drive-thru service
and adding a breakfast menu 7
Elder said he and owner Nancy Simms decided that the
restaurant needed rejuvenating
"We want a little fresher look, and with that in mind, we
have made the changes that we feel will be beneficial in the
long run," Elder said
Elder didn’t claim competition from other fast food places
as influencing their decision to make the changes
He estimates that the drive-thru will be completed by the
middle of February, and the breakfast menu will then be
added Other minor cosmetic changes are also underway
The basic appeal of the Varsity, however, will be the same,
Elder said
GERALD M. THOMAS, 0.1).
is pleased to announce
the association of
STUART J. THOMAS, 0.1).
AND
SIIARON 11. THOMAS, O.D.
in the practice of
GENERAL OPTOMETRY
and
CONTACT LENSES
BAXTF.H PROFESSIONAL lU'II.DING
1077 Baxter St.
340-7757
Office Hours by Apixiintmt-ni
SATURDAY, JAN 19, 7:30 PM
UGA COLISEUM
GEORGIA LADY DOGS
VS
FLORIDA GATORS
5:00 Pragame
1000 STROH'S PAINTERS CAPS TO BE GIVEN OUT
“I don’t expect or want these changes to affect our target
market, which is everyone,” Elder said. "We get all kinds in
here Eventually, just about everyone in town comes in every
so often ”
J Carter Langford, of Athens, has been on of these faithful
customers since the downtown restaurant opened
“I was ten years old then," Langford said, “and it was the
only place in town to go All the food was handmade, and the
hops brought it out to your car . "
Langford said he stops by the Varsity just about everyday
He said the fast service and good food keeps him coming
back.
“Since the new management came in. the whole place has
improved," Langford said "It’s clean, fast and fresh, just
like the old Varsity across from the arches
Jack Helton, of Madison County, also said the convenience
and efficiency of the Varsity, not to mention the food, keeps
his patronage y
“I love it," Helton said, "but I can only take it once a
The people who fry the burgers are also smiling
Terry Stephens, a Varsity employee, said. ' Working here
is more like a game than a job We are always laughing and
joking and just havinga ball"
All the fund doesn't keep the Varsity gang from getting
their work done Stephens, known as the Big T. Shortie
George Duke and Quick Carl Lett are all part of the
"Supreme Team", the fastest cooks in the place
Bar-B-Q Killers bring all its talent to
40 Watt during opening act Jan. 21
Jar Mrkwarti TV Red and Black
Bar-B-U Killer*, open at 40 Watt Jan. 21
By JIM TREMAYNE
Hrri «mI Star, KUxrtmtmmxU Mil..
Can't play a guitar 7 No
problem Can’t bang a
drum? No sweat Can't slap
a bass 7 Don't worry about it
If you've got any gutr at all
you'll start a band anyway
and things might just work
out Jusk ask Athens' Bar-B-
Q Killers.
This four-piece band of
University students were
bored with the state of
Athens music so they started
from scratch and worked up
a repertoire of songs that
include covers ranging from
Iggy Pop to the Cramps and
originals like “Oatmeal Oh
Baby." Sounds familiar?
Not so fast, soldier There's
nary a glint of self-
important paserdom to be
found These folks mean it
They still can’t play too well,
but they mean it.
"We've never professed to
be musicians or anything."
guitarist/bassist Claire
Home said "ll’s amazing
thal we've even played in
clubs before because of a
total lack of talent, but I
think we really have a good
idea of taste in what we want
our stuff to sound like ”
“Yeah, we wanna rock!"
Singer/contortionist Laura
Cater added
Along with drummer
Arthur Johnson (also a
member of another local
band. Tragic Dancers i and
bassist David Judd, the Bar-
B Q Killers have been tur
ning heads for good or for ill
in the last three months with
their style of noise, feed
back. comedy and grit with
an insult or two thrown in for
good measure Now why in
the world would these nice
suburbanites from good
homes in Buckhead and
Dunwoody want to aurally
assault the fine club goers
who come out to see them
open for some of the more
together bands in town like
Dreams So Real 7
"We don't want to be
background music," Horne
said "A friend of mine told
me that whether people love
us or hate us. we'll always
get a reactaion "
No middle ground for this
bunch, for it is easy to see
why people might react to
Carter's scalding tirades
about the Love Boat and
penis envy
“l just want to offend as
many people as possible and
shop at Davison's." Carter
said "New clothes, not
used "
Offending people may be
whal Carter is good at now.
but given time. Carter and
her bandmates may lighten
up and turn themselves into
a more legitimate band (i.e
learn how to play > In the
meantime, the band is
content to have fun playing
gigs and "running up the
biggest beer tab in history "
"If the people go lo see us
for tightness and quality,
they're obviously going to be
disappointed," Horne said
"I would say to anyone that
if you want to hear
something really impressive
and light and beautiful then
don't come to see us "
However, if trashiness and
beer-soaked humor is your
bag, the Bar H Q Killers
might be just what the
doctor ordered
WINNER TO RECEIVE CM COMPETE LIVE ON C8S-TV]
MISS GEORGIA USA •
PAGEANT l°85 •
•
Too tin •*« •#«*• fuMi.'se «* Gtor»i i '»p»* •
m* n«tM<na«if ••>•* \rrt V\» USA •
t*4qr4->l Meat \|U.nq t n m tM'ch »o* M %* (,«oeq>a •
•% O" Sid* Dr Wuch ? 1 '« A|I4*U • ,
fOo l'» vr*q»* • id Dr'orrr* l*W »qeo' l| *>*<1 i*
a*. >' Mil ' '»•' to 1 a ' r* I I »•! •
■
V •
,
p*on* 14041 544 MOD
OVER *1 75,000 IN PRISS TO NATIONAL WINNER
WHERE’S
the
LEAF?
MALE MODELS NEEDED
For Malepak & Doc's Sports
Catalogs & National Ads
Send Photo for interview
to
Doc
P.0. Boi 490338
Atlanta, BA. 30349
Warm Ups
50%
off
Hi Point Low
00
adidas ^
.2 ..«•
CHECK
OUR
PRICED RACKS
IN EACH
STORE ft
~z
1068 Baxter St. 546 0618
Georgetown Shopping Center 546-0616
144 Clayton (Downtown) 353-2255
CLOSE OUT
Basketball Shoes up to
30% off
adidas W
ROCK-N-ROLL
SEMINAR
TATE CENTER
Reception Hall
January 20,1985
9:00 p.m.
JL includei special expose on
baekmasking. 0he truth just may he the most startling thirty that S
happened to you.
STARTS JANUARY 18th AT A THEATRE NEAR YOU.