The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

WAITSBURG - Foodies and car buffs from throughout southeast Washington will have at least four good reasons to be in Waitsburg on the first weekend of August.

The first is the annual Classic Auto Show & Swap Meet, which starts with its traditional gathering and cruise at Preston Park on Friday, Aug. 5, followed by the show and meet on Saturday.

The second is the triple grand opening the same weekend of three new food establishments, representing a second wave of gourmet eateries as part of the small town's renaissance, adding to the well-established Whoopemup Hollow Café and the jimgermanbar.

After months of renovation activities, the Anchor tavern at 128C Main, the Coppei Coffee shop at 137 Main and Betty's Diner at 114 Preston Ave. are all planning their grand opening to coincide with the auto show, their owners said.

The Anchor will have live music on Friday. The gourmet coffee shop will offer its ice cream and door prizes. Betty's diner will have similar incentives, such as deserts and T-shirts, for visitors to try out the 1950s-style restaurant.

Also opening next to the Whetstone pub at 112 Preston Ave. on the first weekend in August is Baby Girl's Consignments Store & More, which will have curiosity items for sale.

"It's exciting," Waitsburg Mayor Walt Gobel said. "I'm elated that it's happening. It will increase our tax base and keep business in town."

Waitsburg residents now sometimes venture elsewhere to get their restaurant food or drinks. With the Whoopemup Hollow Café, the jimgermanbar, the Old El Paso Tacqueria, the Laht Neppur Brewery and the White Stallion, the choices are still limited.

But the three new food businesses will bring the number of eateries to eight and will help keep people in town, not to mention bring new people here, Gobel said.

Currently working a part time job in the Lewiston/ Clarkston area, Gobel runs into people who love hearing he's from Waitsburg.

"When I tell people where I'm from, they always say how much they love coming to our town," he said. "Now, they'll have even more reasons."

Combined, the three new food establishments will create about 10 fulltime jobs and numerous part time positions, according to their owners. The Anchor tavern in the former American Legion building is owned by Walla Walla winemaker Charles Smith, while Coppei Coffee is owned by Times publisher Imbert Matthee and Betty's Diner by Tiffany Laposi.

"I hope we can turn this town into a food destination," said Bart Baxter, Laposi's partner and Betty's general manager. "I think we should have events like this all the time."

As for the diner, Baxter said he wants people to "come in curious and leaved amazed."

Matthee said the three new eateries will give Waitsburg enough critical mass to become a culinary crossroads.

"The town has an unusual sense of intimacy for a place where two highways meet," he said. "That intimacy and retro charm continues when you go into a Main Street bar, restaurant and our coffee shop. We hope that makes people want to linger and come back."

The tentative summer schedule for the coffee shop is Mondays 6 am - 2 pm; Tuesdays through Fridays 6 am to 8 pm, Saturdays 8 am - 9 pm; and Sundays 8 am to 8 pm. The diner will be open daily 6 am to 4 pm except on Tuesdays when it will be closed. The tavern will be open Tuesdays through Sundays noon to midnight.

New Downtown Businesses

Betty's Diner 114 Preston Ave.

Coppei Coffee 137 Main St.

Anchor Bar 128C Main St.

Baby Girl Consignment 112 Preston Ave.