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Laura Peters
Staunton News Leader
Published 8:27 AM EDT Jul 6, 2020
STAUNTON – A Waynesboro Steakhouse has officially closed, you can get creative with this chalk art contest and a grant is available for businesses hit hard by COVID-19 — here’s the buzz.
Steakhouse
Gavid’s Steakhouse in Waynesboro announced last week it would be officially closing its doors after 35 years of business.
The restaurant, located on West Broad Street, served up steak, chicken, pork and more in a buffet-style setting.
Gavid’s closed in March, like many area restaurants.
“To our loyal customers, employees, family, and friends … as of right now we have decided to close our doors during the Coronavirus pandemic,” a post from the restaurant’s Facebook page said in late-March. “It breaks our hearts to do so, but we felt it was the right decision for us and our employees. We do not know what the future holds and we pray this is not the end for us and we will come back from this. We pray for all of our other local businesses that have had to make this tough decision as well.”
Then in April, it reopened under a tent outside the restaurant to allow guests to pick-up meals.
A post on the restaurant’s Facebook page on June 28 announced they would not be opening up, but would continue to offer curbside to-go until the food ran out.
“It is with a heavy heart that we would like to announce that we will not be re-opening the restaurant back up,” the post said. “We have had an amazing 35 years because of our amazing community and we thank you.”
Within hours of posting the news on their page, they had sold out of food.
“We would like to take a moment and thank each and every one of you! We have sat here with tears in our eyes as we read each and everyone of your comments,” another post on the restaurant’s Facebook page said. “To say we feel loved is understatement. We have said it many times before but we live and have the most amazing community and customers. We know we sprang today on you all so we have something in the works to make up for that. A goodbye so to speak! So stay tuned and stay safe! We love you and thank you for giving us the best 35 years we could have ever hoped for.”
Many customers took to the restaurant’s Facebook page to express their sadness in its closing.
“Such a loss for Waynesboro. I have been eating here since it was Bonanza and continued up until COVID struck,” James Morrison posted. “So sad as this the best buffet/steakhouse around. Hopefully one of the other managers or employees can reopen it”
“You will be missed,” Mitzi Miller posted. “We support a lot of businesses. But, it is especially good when hometown boys own the business. I worked there when it was Bonanza.”
“I was so sad to come and support you all but you were sold out. Which is very good. I hate to thank there won’t be a Gavid’s,” Ginny Henderson posted. “Such good food but seeing people you grew up, and now taking our grandchildren there. They loved it as well. A huge thank you to Gary and David spears for doing a awesome job all these years.”
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Chalk art
The Earth Day Chalk Art Festival will be held July 11 at the Howard Johnson parking lot off Lewis Street in Staunton.
In April, Earth Day Staunton went virtual due to COVID-19, with the hope of holding some event in person in the following months. Keeping safety practices in mind, a street art chalk festival can take people of all ages outside to enjoy nature and still be safe from the virus, the release said.
Artists will create their art from 7:30 to 10 a.m. There is a rain date for July 18.
In the wake of recent climate change strikes, and demonstrations for racial equality, judges will be looking for art that shows “Harmony: People in Harmony with Nature and People in Harmony with one another,” the release said.
“Shenandoah Green and Earth Day Staunton believe that in order to have a sustainable world, there has to be social and environmental justice,” the release said. “Sustainability is inherently intersectional. Individuals and systems are connected and how they interact with one another is important.”
The festival will have two categories: children and adult. Two winners will be chosen from both categories.
Artists are asked to follow safety protocol:
- Wear Masks while drawing and while talking to people
- Spaces allocated in the parking lot will be 6 or more feet apart
- Bring your own chalk so there is no cross contamination
- When walking around the parking lot, stay six feet or more apart from others and wear a mask.
Chalk art on the pavement will be numbered. Judges will determine winners by 10:30 a.m.
Grant
Augusta County has created a Disaster Recovery Grant Fund to help county businesses hit by COVID-19 closures and other business interruptions due to the pandemic.
The grant will provide up to $10,000 cash per eligible grant applicant and applications are due by 9 a.m. on July 10. Awarded grantees will be notified by July 17 and disbursement checks will be mailed by July 24.
Eligible businesses will have a physical location in Augusta County and must be locally owned and operated with 25 employees or less, the release said. This grant is for businesses who have not received or been awarded loans under any federal program, including loans from Small Business Association programs.
“This grant fund provides resources to help our local businesses recover more quickly and where it is needed most — getting employees back to work in a healthy environment and customers through the door safely,” Randy Roller, chair of the Augusta County Economic Development authority, said in a release.
Businesses can use the grant to reimburse costs for personal protective equipment, cleaning equipment and supplies, technology for e-commerce or virtual business operations, construction and alterations to encourage social distancing, rent or mortgage and utilities, the release said.
In the case where the application requests exceed the funds available, a Grant Review Committee will rate the applications based on the severity of impact that COVID-19 had on the business, the release said.
Businesses can learn more about the program, eligibility requirements, and how to apply online at Augustavabusiness.com/facts-figures/covid-19/.
Funding for the grant comes from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act that was signed into federal law on March 27, 2020. Augusta County received $6.5 million of CARES Act funding from the state on June 1. The Augusta County Board of Supervisors voted to allocate $200,000 to the EDA for local business relief at their regular meeting on June 24. The Staunton Creative Community Fund will partner in administering the program.
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You can reach reporter Laura Peters at [email protected]. Follow her @peterslaura.
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