New owners, new name for Smith Mountain Lake store
The shop formerly known as the Lakehouse Beanery at Bridgewater Plaza in Moneta has a new name and new owners.
The shop is now called Oar Knot, and is owned by two couples, lake residents Andy and Sheila Andrews and Bob and Linda Burger.
The owners of the Lakehouse Beanery approached the Andrews about buying the store. They didn’t want to go at it alone, so they asked the Burgers, friends from church, to join the venture, Andy Andrews said.
The Andrews and the Burgers took over ownership on Feb. 1. Andrews wouldn’t disclose terms of the sale.
Oar Knot is undergoing a makeover. The walls are getting new coats of paint and the floors are getting new carpeting. Old merchandise is market down up to 75 percent to make room for a new line of gifts and a large selection of Smith Mountain Lake apparel featuring the lake’s nautical symbol.
The Andrews and Burgers also plan to expand their wine shop and hold wine tastings on Saturdays. They are also adding to the deli. In addition to sandwiches, they will offer fried chicken and to-go boxes with sandwiches, cookies and chips, to make it easy for boaters to grab food they can eat on the water.
A grand opening is planned for April 5.
February 6, 2013 - 5:00 AM
Smith Mountain Lake tradition new owners same horrible product, service, hours. I give this venture 6 months and they will be closed also. Nature of the beast here at the lake.
The best thing anyone could do is blow up Bridgewater Plaza and start over. It is a tourist trap and notice how no one is there after Sept when everyone leaves. Just saying there’s a reason for that.
The wife and I have just decided to make the 30 minute trip to Roanoke if we want to shop or eat. Better atmosphere, service,etc.
Disgruntled…did you have some bad experiences at the lake or what? My wife and I live in Goodview so Bridgewater is the same distance as Roanoke (give or take). We’ll take that drive over driving into Roanoke any day. We eat at Pizza Pub once a month, Moosie’s a little less often and when in the mood for Chinese, there’s Chopsticks. Now Jake’s is doing quite well (wonderful breakfast/brunch) and we just tried Smokehouse in Downtown Moneta for the first time…yum! Yes there are places that had horrible service/food/both..but they close just like anything in town.
Everyone leaves after September because most of the summer crowd doesn’t live here. Hope you give more places a try (or a second try if the first didn’t take).
I live in the SW part of SML, and my wife and I love riding over to Bridgewater. There are plenty of activities for the kids, and my wife and I love going to each of the little stores. How someone could hate Bridgewater Marina is beyond me.
The name says DisgruntledLaker and that is what he is! I live here at wonderful SML and it is by far one of the most amazing communities I have had the honor to live in! I wish the very best to Andy and Sheila and hope they have great success with their new adventure!!
@disgruntledlaker, WOW! With attitudes like yours no wonder business’ are closing down. Quite a few stores at Bridgewater Plaza and in the area have been around for decades. I’m a business owner in Roanoke and it’s quite risky opening any business right now when jobs and pay checks are getting cut and many people are struggling. However, I do wish this business lots of success and luck!
Okay, Let’s get a grip and not be so defensive and over protective. Bridgewater functions exactly how it’s suppose to. Whether here at our beloved SML or at any lake USA. They are to provide a simple service, fun access from a boat and a view of the lake. This is why half the quality of off-lake vendors is an over achievement. It’s not their fault they are par the course causeway restaurants and boutique vendors. They are supposed to offer fast food “flip flop” style cuisine and SML shirts. (flip flop dining verses white table cloths on the lake) It’s a lake environment. Where else are you going to get SML shirts? Walmart in Lynchburg? Also, lakeside “cheeky” has it’s own style of charm. It works at most populated lakes from Lake Winnipesauke in NH to Lake Taleo CA.
As for the comment about food in Moneta,, that’s a person with a bar set so low you could pick it up off the floor. Having been sick and the recipient of bad service in that center and specifically at the smokehouse I wouldn’t use that as an example. With many better options around and on the water I wouldn’t suggest getting wrapped around the axle over bridgewater. I eat there and I am no annoyed when I receive food / service that one would expect from a causeway quick-serve restaurant.
Finally (I know, long winded) SML has high vendor turnover because there isn’t consistent population to support all these places. Even as a non-tourist, yes a resident, I don’t see the inside of any of the causeway shops until the weather warms and I can pull in by boat.
One person, with a likely unpopular point of view. Hopefully not taken personally or offensively. Smile, spring is just around the corner and I will see you all at the bridgewater (eating a half burnt and half frozen something or other, but will still be enjoying it.
Fisherman, you say don’t take it personally, yet in the previous paragraph you make a lovely comment about the bar being set so low. Thanks for that. Reminds me I’m due for a visit to Texas Tavern. You don’t state what you are looking for in a restaurant around the lake that is up to your liking/standards.
Hi Brian, you make somewhat of a Fair point. I do say that I do not care for the restaurant that you like in Moneta. (didn’t like the food / service) I do say that the bridgewater vendors serve their purpose well. I do say that casual verses white table cloth dinning is preferred by me for lakeside dinning. So I will disagree and say that I gave a high level point of view of a couple things that I like.
You make a good point about going to Texas Tavern, we all get to go where we like and I like the bridgewater in the Spring and Summer. I also don’t hold an opinion that weighs any more than anyone else’s and I want to be clear that when the new place opens I will be happy to go there. I will have my expectations set to a lakeside place and I am looking forward to them succeeding with this.
I stand by my displeasure of the restaurant in Moneta, yes, it was that bad of an experience for my family / friends on two occasions. Again, just one opinion.