By Audrey Stratton | Local Happenings
Sitting on Gallia Street is a little restaurant that is well known in Portsmouth. Jim Dandy has been a local favorite for years.
Stepping into the diner takes you back to the 50s. They also have a drive in with carhops! Joe and Veronica Whitt are the proud owners of this local gem.
Veronica runs the business in memory of her dad. He called it God’s little acre. She says that Jim Dandy was his pride and joy.
He opened it in 1965 and was always reminding her that, “if you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life.”
Veronica says that her employees are the best! They are always by her side to support her even during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her three managers, Cindy, Caylee, and Laura are the best, she says.
I asked her what the local support during the COVID-19 pandemic meant to her and she told me, “The local support through this virus has been so amazing! We live in an awesome county! Our customers are awesome! I think still having carhops with the carhop coming out to talk to you in person with a smile to greet you means a lot! People try to get me to put in a drive thru but I insist on keeping it the same as it has been for 55 years! I would like to thank all of our loyal customers and all the new friends we have made through this pandemic!!”
They have many great items on their menu, but their favorites are The Big Mo, the Jim Dandy Sandwich, homemade onion rings, and a slice of strawberry pie!
What will you try? Check out their menu here!