New River Pub & Grill opens in Mount Hope

By Jenny Harnish, RealWV

Michele Harmon has worked in the service industry for around 30 years. She started when she was 15 and worked every position from the counter to the kitchen and up to management. 

“I’ve been in the business so long I was ready to not work for somebody else,” she said. 

Together with her husband, Chris Harmon, they decided to take the leap and purchased what was Our Place Bar in Mt. Hope when it came up for sale. 

Slowly, over the next two and a half years, while also working full time jobs and facing some major setbacks, the couple transformed the inside of the establishment. They added new lighting and remodeled the bathrooms and kitchen. 

On January 10th they celebrated the opening of New River Pub and Grill.

“We wanted to add something more to the area,” Harmon said. “We wanted to make sure that we had an establishment for food. I live right in Mt. Hope and there’s not a whole bunch this way. We wanted to add another establishment for our local people especially, and we wanted to add something extra for tourists where it’s so close to the New River Gorge.”

Harmon describes the menu as “simple pub food”. 

“We have an amazing cheeseburger from Tony’s meat market. We have a West Virginia Hot Dog and a fried bologna sandwich. We want to keep the staples.”

Other items include pierogies, jalapeno poppers and onion rings. 

“We want to introduce other things that are a taste of home for people,” she said 

The cozy interior features a pool table, a TouchTunes jukebox and 4 large TVs surrounding the bar area.  

“We wanted to make sure we had enough TVs so people could watch different things like sporting events.” The venue also holds events including Family Feud, Jeopardy and karaoke nights. 

“I just hope the community is pleased with the business that we have,” Harmson said. “I hope that it’s a place that people want to come and sit down even if it’s just to have a little bit of community and bite to eat and feel like home while they’re here. I want everyone to feel welcome and have a great experience here.”

Business hours are Monday-Thursday from 11a.m-11p.m. Friday and Saturday from 11a.m-12a.m and Sunday from 11a.m – 9p.m.