By Staff
NEW STORE Joey Rodgers prepares a hamburger at his new location of Mr. Rodgers Hamburgers. Cooking in the background is Chorneilus McCoy. Rodgers opened his new store at 1300 23rd Ave. last month; his first one is on Highway 19 across from Meridian Community College. PHOTO BY WILLIAM F. WEST / THE MERIDIAN STAR
By William F. West / community editor
Jan. 5, 2003
Customers of Joey Rodgers' downtown ice cream and donut shop had long wanted him to serve sandwiches so he decided he would accommodate them.
Rodgers sold the business. And when an old, nearby clinic building became available, he bought it and opened Mr. Rodgers Hamburgers at 1300 23rd Ave. on Dec. 16.
Mr. Rodgers has attracted a stream of customers, about 15 to 20 of whom were either eating or lined up to order lunch one day last week.
Customers said they were both pleased with their meals and the location.
Rhonda Hawkins, director of occupational therapy at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center, said, "It's a nice break from cafeteria food at the hospital."
Mr. Rodgers Hamburgers is open Monday through Saturday from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and includes a drive-up window. The breakfast menu includes hot cakes, grits, hash browns and eggs.
The lunch and dinner menu includes bacon-burgers, cheeseburgers, chili burgers, hamburgers, hot dogs, grilled cheese steaks and salads. It also includes chicken platters, fish platters and french fries.
Rodgers is hardly a newcomer to the food service business; he formerly managed a McDonald's in Meridian for nine years.
For 81/2 years, he has owned and operated a Mr. Rodgers Hamburgers along Highway 19 across from Meridian Community College.
For 17 years, he also owned and operated Mr. Rodgers Donuts &Ice Cream at 1308 22nd Ave. He sold it six months ago to Randy Keely.