‘It’s just the start’ at Mechanicsville Kitchen after confident opening Saturday

September 20, 2022 | 12:10 am

Updated September 19, 2022 | 10:26 pm

Photo by Josh Kelly

Tia Johnson said it’s just the start of great things at Mechanicsville Kitchen after having a productive Saturday at their location. The diner is located at 924 Crabtree Avenue.

Johnson said that on the first day of her soft opening she was nervous, but she had one mission: to make sure everyone felt at home. Ironically, she said this goes back to the history of the location.

“Before it was made Mendy’s Kitchen, before it was the Dairy Barn, this was actually a house and it was a house of a family — the Glover family,” Johnson said.

She said that many of the people that lived in the house now live in the surrounding area of Mechanicsville. So as a love letter to Mechanicsville, she named it as such.

But she said the restaurant is not just for Mechanicsville residents, and she hopes for people from across town to come, get comfortable, and make memories over nothing else but food.

The diner’s menu has basic breakfast plates and breakfast sandwiches in addition to burgers, wings, chicken tenders, and more.

Johnson said she hopes to have a monthly special where Monday through Friday people can order three-course meal soul food plates. And as time goes she wants to bring in other dishes, including authentic Mexican cuisine.

“We’ll change that up every month. But everything is fresh. I don’t have anything frozen — maybe French fries and stuff like that, but as far as meat, the cooking, the seasoning, everything is from the house,” she said.

She said the decision to open up shop was a leap of faith, and that she can only thank God for allowing her the chance to create a business and follow her passion for cooking.

Johnson started cooking when she was younger for made dishes for her siblings. She said she taught herself how to make good food when her mom was working late nights. Ever since then she’s been behind a grill or a kitchen stove.

“It’s always been about the people and my love for meeting different people to see people happy. That’s the main thing — and of course food, everybody loves food,” Johnson said.

After the first day, she said that she was very thankful for the amount of support she received; now she’s excited for her first whole week open.

The diner has dine-in options right now as they pace themselves into opening a drive-thru option.

Hours for Mechanicsville Kitchen are Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturdays from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., and closed on Sundays.

September 20, 2022 | 12:10 am

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