BY LORA CARDWELL AND VICTORIA PERKINS
STAR INTERNS
Editor’s Note: This Summer, the Elizabethton Star is being joined by Lora Cardwell and Victoria Perkins as part of East Tennessee State University’s Upward Bound Program for their Career Work Study. Both Lora and Victoria are rising seniors at Cloudland High School. They will be taking part in a variety of activities while participating in the program and they will be sharing their adventures with our readers.
Missy’s Waterwheel Café is a quaint little restaurant on Hwy 19E. Missy Garland and her family rented the restaurant to give her the chance to do something she has always wanted to do, and that is to cook. Garland — wanted to do many things as a child, as we all do. She wanted to be a doctor at first and then a judge. Over the years, her plans changed, but her desire to help people has always been present.
Before the opportunity to get the Waterwheel Café arose Garland worked as a teacher’s assistant.
In order to open the restaurant, Garland had to get her business license, but said she didn’t have to take any cooking classes.
“I’ve been cooking for over 25 years,” Garland said.
The restaurant is operated by the family. Megan, Garland’s daughter, does the waitressing when she’s available and Garland’s husband, Billy, helps as well.
The prices at the café are very reasonable and the food is wonderful. Some of the items available on the menu are: Philly cheese steaks, B.L.T.s, BBQ, hamburgers, chicken tenders, fries, and hot fudge cakes.
Garland hopes that with time she can expand her menu. The restaurant has just recently opened under the Garland family’s ownership and business is starting to pick up.
Since the restaurant opened, it has been busy Garland said, adding she has had to handle as many as 12 orders at a time.
Previously, another restaurant named “The Waterwheel Café” operated in the same building.
One thing that is consistent between the two owners and two cafes is the work put into the restaurant. The Café has received a perfect 100 sanitation score on its last four inspections which includes both the current and former owners.
If you would like to check them out they have a Facebook page Missy’s Waterwheel Café. Be sure to type “Missy’s” or a page from the prior business will appear. Her business hours are Tuesday through Saturday 11 am until 7 pm.
The Waterwheel Café has a unique story. For one, it does not have a waterwheel. One was being built and was almost finished when the Flood of 1998 came through and washed the structure for it away, along with most of the building. The building was rebuilt and equipped for only $20,000.