The River Valley Grill is located on Exchange Street.
RUMFORD – When Freddie’s Restaurant closed last fall, many people found themselves without a place in town to go for breakfast.
That changed on Monday when Bob and Kathi Knowles opened the River Valley Grill, a new restaurant located on Exchange Street that aims to capture the breakfast and luncheon crowd.
“We’ve always wanted to own a business by ourselves,” said Kathi Knowles, who was taking vacation time off from her job at Irving’s Forest Products in Dixfield to help get the business going. “This is filling a gap that happened when Freddie’s closed.”
For Bob Knowles, he felt like he was back where he belonged. He had been a cook at Freddie’s for several years. Now he, along with another cook, Alex Ross, who had also worked at Freddie’s, are cooking or making pastries from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
“I like people and I like cooking,” said Bob Knowles. “A lot of people in today were at Freddie’s before. We’ve had a lot of support.”
Not only are the two cooks from Freddie’s, but so, too, are three of the wait staff – Stella Blanchard, Debbie Marston and Cathy Brann.
“It’s pretty chaotic right now, but we all know each other. I’m very excited about it and haven’t been sleeping, but we wanted to provide a place for people to have breakfast,” said Bob Knowles.
Both Bob and Kathi have many years of experience in the food service business. They have been part-owners or employees in several area restaurants over the years. Along with their two full-time and five part-time employees, including another waitress, Sandra Glazier, who worked with the couple in their Dixfield restaurant, the Knowles’ two sons are helping out.
Bryan, 17, and a junior at Dirigo High School, took the day off to help the family business and will be working on Saturdays and vacations.
“I couldn’t keep up with the dishes at first,” he said.
His younger brother, Nathan, 15, will also help.
Bob specializes in soups and desserts, and prepares fresh baked goods every day, as well. The restaurant will offer special lunches every day, such as chicken in a biscuit, old-fashioned shepherd’s pie or chicken pie.
The restaurant uses two store fronts. One that had housed the tiny Violet’s Cafe and the adjacent one that had housed Yates Antiques. Yates has moved one door up.
The Knowles hope to expand their current 50-seat business when it becomes possible in the future.
eadams@sunjournal.com
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