
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, March 26, 1995                   TAG: 9503290005
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

RESTAURANT AIMS TO BE COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTOR

As the owner of Sharkey's Grille, I would like to clear up a misunderstanding many residents got from your recent article about our restaurant ("5 hurt in bar brawl," March 3, Current). We only require a college ID from out-of-towners for late-night dancing. We have never had a problem with any Blacksburg resident, and we appreciate their business. Invariably, any major problem has come from people from out of town. The fight mentioned in your article was started by 15 men from Galax.

Many people think the problem is a rare one, but it is not nearly as rare as I would have assumed as a Blacksburg resident. By requiring college IDs for nonresidents late at night, we are trying to keep out those who come from another town to cause trouble. Unfortunately, it also keeps out those out-of-towners who come to have a good time. We recognize that this is discriminatory, but I do think it is for the good of the community. Other downtown restaurants have also had problems. We are trying to keep the community safe for everyone.

I've lived in Blacksburg for four years and moved here knowing this was a great town where I could feel save and be a part of the community. I would not want anyone to feel that we would discriminate against fellow residents or that we are not interested in the welfare of Blacksburg.

Since we've been open, we have sponsored Little League, soccer, volleyball, bowling and basketball teams, none of which involve college students. Last year, we started the Women's Basketball League. We were the host of a benefit for Big Brothers/Big Sisters, a dance-a-thon for NRV AIDs Coalition and are now putting together a fund-raiser for Habitat for Humanity. It has been important to us to be a part of this community, and we are proud of our accomplishments.

Stephanie Rogol is the owner of Sharkey's Grille in downtown Blacksburg.

by CNB