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Snack Shack will be open for today's Spotsylvania County Holiday Parade despite damage by a truck Date published: 12/5/2009
By DAN TELVOCK The Snack Shack on Courthouse Road is as much a fixture as the annual Spotsylvania County Holiday Parade that has marched past the fast-food restaurant for 32 consecutive years. Then on Black Friday, a 2004 Ford F-150 truck crashed through one of the restaurant's walls. Snack Shack owner Al Parnell said he had just picked up the phone when he heard a loud boom. "I turned around and I saw windows dropping onto this truck," he said. "Glass was flying all over the place. It knocked the freezer 4 feet. I took two steps to answer the phone or else the freezer would have been on my lap." The building sustained about $8,000 in damages, he said. Parnell worried that he wouldn't have his restaurant reopened in time for this afternoon's parade, which happens to be one of his busier days. Parade watch-ers typically line up at the Snack Shack's front window seeking to satisfy appetites for such favorites as Royal Burger Deluxe, fries, hot dogs and shakes. Parnell, who bought the shop more than 30 years ago and now owns it outright, said he opted not to buy business insurance because his building is so old it would have cost him hundreds of thousands of dollars just to bring the restaurant up to current codes. To make matters worse, Parnell said the state trooper who responded to the crash told him that the owner of the truck is not insured, either. The repairs are coming out of Parnell's pocket, for now. County inspectors weren't optimistic the store could open today, either. Dave Ansell, the county's deputy building official, said Parnell was allowed to start rebuilding the wall Monday without a building permit. Typically, a person has to get a building permit before they can do any work to a business or home. Ansell said Parnell got his permit on Tuesday instead, and the extra time allowed him to open today. "They went out of their way, I think," Parnell said. "The windows won't be there, but we will be able to get open." The parade starts at 2 p.m. and runs from Spotsylvania Middle School to Robert E. Lee Elementary. Dan Telvock: 540/374-5438
the parade is postponed till next weekend the 12th. Guess he'll have a bit more time. dubya, while the celebration could continue, the impact to the restaurant would be like a dept store not being able to open on "Black Friday"
i went to spotsy sr high in 70's that was our hang out after school and before the games .. fond memories .. and when i got married i ate there every night when i was preg with my daughter ( due to i couldnt stand smell of food cooking lol) ranch burger and choc shake .. havent eaten there in yrs but brings back good memories
continues, I doubt he'll do much business. Can't imagine anyone but the participants being at a parade in this downpour in Spotsylvania! Better luck next year.
I don't know how the celebration could have continued without Snack Shack!
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