THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 15, 1996 TAG: 9602140127
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 08 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 91 lines
THREE OR FOUR days a week, Bud Derrick goes straight from his job as a sales representative at Commonwealth Propane to Main Street's.
Generally, he says, he stays two or three hours on weekdays. On weekends, it's sometimes from 8 p.m. until 2 a.m. ``My wife comes with me,'' he emphasizes.
Main Street's, like the famous Boston watering hole Cheers, is intimate and warm - a happy mix of Bud (Derrick), Bud (weiser) and buddies.
``It's a good place with good atmosphere and good entertainment,'' he said. ``And, the people are friendly.''
One friend, Wayne Evans is, compared to Derrick, a homebody. He only parks himself on a Raw Bar stool three to five times a week. ``You can relax here, forget your problems. . . ,'' he said.
Another regular, an Isle of Wight County woman who prefers anonymity, said, ``I come here because this is the decentest place around.''
Indeed, Main Street's is not for the raucous at heart. It is a laid-back haven for the over-25, mostly professional, crowd who have fine-tuned the art of guzzlin' and gabbin'.
Beer is the drink of choice, but hard liquor does well, thank you.
The most interesting offering in that category is on the bar, a large vodka-filled bottle with innocent little carrots, celery and onions swimming inside. Add tomato juice and you have a spicier-than-usual Bloody Mary.
``Eat a piece of that celery,'' said bartender Steve Hall, ``and you'll wake up on the bathroom floor.'' The vodka-jug idea was imported from Florida.
Soon to be exported to Florida, after first moving to Nashville, is acoustic musician Norman Harrell. In the Sunshine State he will perform at Sloppy Joe's, one of the best-known clubs in Key West.
The influence of that southernmost city is in the Jimmy Buffett-inspired music of singer, guitarist, kazoo-ist Harrell.
``How many people remembered to take their medicine today?'' he asked. The responsive crowd raised their beer cans in reply.
As the foam continued to flow, the fans yelled out for ``The Kitty Cat Song,'' a naughty novelty written in the '20s by Memphis Minnie.
``The musical preference here is acoustic, newies and oldies. We bring in the best shows. What we pay one person headliners can cost as much as some groups,'' said Matt Musolino, the manager. ``We have the kind of entertainment which normally you'd have to go to the Beach to hear.''
As entertaining as the entertainers is bartender Steve Hall, a Rod Stewart lookalike who proudly proclaims himself ``the best bartender in the world.''
His hands are in constant motion - mixing drinks, serving beer, tossing pop tops into a trash can - often missing.
Those activities are interspersed with Hall's version of ``Can You Top This?'' A patron says something funny, he says something funnier.
Hall and Musolino came from the Peninsula, where they worked at Heartbreak Alley in Hampton and Newport News, ``depending on which side of the club you're standing,'' Musolino said.
Four television sets are in the Raw Bar - picture up, sound out.
Recently, ESPN-2 was showing some amateur football from Florida - something to see, nothing to hear. It was just the idea of having some sports going.
All the major sports are covered in a mural which covers one wall. Another wall proclaims the 4 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday Happy Hour. $1. Another sign advertises Tuesday as the night ``you can get the baddest hot dog in the pit.''
The Raw Bar is the goodest - a laid-back, noisy cubbyhole 50-seater ``where'' as the Cheers theme notes, ``everybody knows your name.''
To get there, you go through the 200-seat restaurant which, musically, is quite a contrast.
In the dining area, it is Mantovani City, where you hear such genteel items as Stephen Foster's ``Beautiful Dreamer.'' Once the glass doors close behind you, it's a different story.
The music, live or on tape, is usually rock or acoustic; the conversation and smiles seemingly never-ending.
Cheers! MEMO: AT A GLANCE
What: Main Street's Restaurant and Raw Bar.
Where: 1467 North Main St.
When: The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through
Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, 4 to 11 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. to
10 p.m. Sunday. The Raw Bar is open from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday
through Saturday.
Information: Call 934-9235. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by MICHAEL KESTNER
``It's a good place with good atmosphere and good entertainment,''
one patron said about Main Street's Restaurant.
Dave Klages performs on Friday night at Main Street's Restaurant.
by CNB