Goldie’s leaving Washington Street, heading to S. Frontage|[5/10/06]
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, May 10, 2006
After 46 years, Goldie’s Trail Bar-B-Que is moving off Washington Street.
“The decision was a hard one, but I’d like to get away from the gaming and get closer to the local community,” said owner Randy Wright, whose business at 4127 Washington was sold Friday to Ameristar Casino Vicksburg, 4116 Washington.
Plans are to move the restaurant’s operation into the South Frontage Road building that now houses Porter Paints & Decorating Center. A manager there said the store will be moving, but a location has not been decided.
Ameristar declined comment on the purchase of the Goldie’s property or other parcels the city’s largest casino has bought along Washington Street.
The Porter store at 2430 S. Frontage Road, built as a Shoney’s restaurant, which operated there until a move to Pemberton Square Boulevard, will allow more space and more business for the restaurant, Wright said. He plans to move by December or January, with a maximum of two weeks of down time.
“The location is more in the mainstream as far as being near the local people, who have always made my living for me,” he said.
Goldie’s Trail Bar-B-Que was founded in 1960 across the street from the current location, 4127 Washington St. Opened by Wright’s uncle Gola Odell “Goldie” Marshall, the building had a small front counter with only eight stools. Eventually, tables were added, but never more than 40 customers could be seated at one time, Wright said.
Longtime customer George Lee said he remembers the checkered tablecloths, a “legendary” waitress named Flo Ragland and good food.
“It was just one of those places – like the old diners,” Lee said.
He said both locations have been like a second home to him with the old one seeing him through high school and junior college. Now, he continues the tradition by eating lunch and visiting with old friends at least twice a week.
“It’s good people and good food,” Lee said.
Goldie Marshall’s commitment to personal service is what Randy Wright said he, his wife, Rhonda, and his son, Randy Jr., have stood by all these years.
“We try to be as consistent as we possibly can while still offering a quality product,” Randy Wright said. “Most ‘mom and pops’ don’t make it, but it’s the personal touch and the consistency. There aren’t many places where the owner walks around and talks to you.”
Wright took over the business in 1980, two years before Goldie Marshall’s death. Three years later, the Wrights bought the property where the rustic barbecue house now seats 116.
Goldie’s Express on Pemberton Square Boulevard was opened by Rhonda Wright’s brother, Gary Thomas, in 1990. Thomas worked as a manager at Goldie’s on Washington Street from 1982 until he opened the business.
In 2001, Riverside Food Service, a catering business started by Randy and Rhonda Wright and Thomas, began catering events for the Vicksburg Convention Center. The family recently terminated their contract because of the move, Wright said.
With his son’s involvement, Wright hopes his family will take Goldie’s into the next 30 or 40 years.
“We don’t intend on closing down,” he said. “No matter what happens, we’ll keep the tradition going.”
Ameristar, which opened in 1994, has been in a phased expansion. A new building south of the casino and a new parking garage north of it are to be followed by a second hotel immediately east of its cofferdam.
With acquisition of the Goldie’s property, Ameristar is closer to owning most of the property from Interstate 20 north to Confederate Avenue.