Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 17, 1991 TAG: 9104170664
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: DANIEL HOWES BUSINESS WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The new co-owner of Theo's Bar & Grill, a refurbished eatery at 801 E. Campbell Ave., spent the first morning of a nationwide rail strike ferrying coffee to strikers in front of the 8 1/2 Street entrance to Norfolk Southern Corp.'s East End Shops.
"Just trying to be a helpful neighbor," Corrieri said. "Some of them are our regular customers, so we've been keeping tabs on what's going to happen. We're going to support them like they support us."
Then, too, the proprietor is trying to rebuild the reputation of a place that a lot of railroaders had come to avoid before Corrieri and her partner took it over in February. "It used to be a pretty rough place," she confessed.
J.D. Tucker is not a regular at Theo's, but the trainman who belongs to Local 620 of the United Transportation Union appreciates Corrieri's neighborliness. "It's very generous of them," he said before returning to the picket line.
When James Mutter, a striking carman with the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen, reached for his money to pay for a drink, Corrieri cut him off: "Put your wallet away," she ordered, smiling.
But beverage support - restrooms, too, because there are no porta-potties on the picket lines - doesn't necessarily reflect how she stands on the 3-year-old labor dispute.
"I don't know that much about the unions," Corrieri said. "I'm here to support the people who support me." Maybe that's why she'll have vats of iced tea and lemonade ready for the afternoon. "It's supposed to be a hot one today."
by CNB