Last September, Marie Pinnell and her fiancé, Steve Boswell, bought the old Cozy Cove marina in Chesapeake. In January, they started a massive renovation. The project inched along. They intended to open May 1. No way. So they planned a grand opening celebration on the Fourth of July. That didn't happen either. Now, finally, they've set a come-hell-or-high-water opening date. The revamped Chesapeake Boat Club and Kanawha River Deli and Café opens absolutely on Tuesday.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- She calls it a labor of love. At times, she wasn't so sure about the love part.
Last September, Marie Pinnell and her fiancé, Steve Boswell, bought the old Cozy Cove marina in Chesapeake. In January, they started a massive renovation.
Picture of the old Cozy Cove Marina at the new Kanawha Boat Club restaurant illustrates the extent of the massive remodeling undertaken by the property’s new owners.
The project inched along. They intended to open May 1. No way. So they planned a grand opening celebration on the Fourth of July. That didn't happen either.
She wondered sometimes what they'd done. "It turned out to be a lot more major than we anticipated," she said.
Now, finally, they've set a come-hell-or-high-water opening date. The revamped Chesapeake Boat Club and Kanawha River Deli and Café opens absolutely on Tuesday. No. Matter. What.
And the second thoughts? Just kidding, she said. "It's been a labor of love and we're tickled with it."
Pinnell and Boswell, a retired boilermaker, were shopping for a business investment when they heard about the marina. A marina and restaurant made sense. "I've been involved in every aspect of restaurant work," she said. "We both love the water. I grew up on a lake. Steve's had a boat most of his life. Three years ago, we bought a boat together."
The marina sits behind the police and fire stations between 124th and 125th streets in Chesapeake.
The only vestige of the former occupant is the Cozy Cove sign in the trash pile. "It had a bad reputation, so I've got a reputation to live down," she said. "I wish people would just come look at what we've done."
What they've done is virtually start over, from ripped out wiring and plumbing to new floor and wall joists. And they did it themselves, "everything except the carpentry," she said. "We even cut our own poplar wood."
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- She calls it a labor of love. At times, she wasn't so sure about the love part.
Last September, Marie Pinnell and her fiancé, Steve Boswell, bought the old Cozy Cove marina in Chesapeake. In January, they started a massive renovation.
The project inched along. They intended to open May 1. No way. So they planned a grand opening celebration on the Fourth of July. That didn't happen either.
She wondered sometimes what they'd done. "It turned out to be a lot more major than we anticipated," she said.
Now, finally, they've set a come-hell-or-high-water opening date. The revamped Chesapeake Boat Club and Kanawha River Deli and Café opens absolutely on Tuesday. No. Matter. What.
And the second thoughts? Just kidding, she said. "It's been a labor of love and we're tickled with it."
Pinnell and Boswell, a retired boilermaker, were shopping for a business investment when they heard about the marina. A marina and restaurant made sense. "I've been involved in every aspect of restaurant work," she said. "We both love the water. I grew up on a lake. Steve's had a boat most of his life. Three years ago, we bought a boat together."
The marina sits behind the police and fire stations between 124th and 125th streets in Chesapeake.
The only vestige of the former occupant is the Cozy Cove sign in the trash pile. "It had a bad reputation, so I've got a reputation to live down," she said. "I wish people would just come look at what we've done."
What they've done is virtually start over, from ripped out wiring and plumbing to new floor and wall joists. And they did it themselves, "everything except the carpentry," she said. "We even cut our own poplar wood."
Boswell figures their sweat equity cut their investment in half. "Just my labor alone would have cost us $100,000," he said.
The all-wood décor in the restaurant features huge picture windows on all sides to showcase the river. On the spacious open deck upstairs, the river vista, edged by steep, hovering hills, extends as far as the eye can see on either side.
Pinnell hopes her new place will lure downriver boaters and enjoy the same popularity as the Barge, Huck Finn's and Tomahawks on the main boating social drag below the locks.
"Now that the new locks are open at Marmet, it's easier for pleasure crafts to get through," she said. "And according to the Corps of Engineers, this is the cleanest stretch of the Kanawha River."
The new facility offers dock space for 30 boats. A dockmaster lives on-site in a houseboat and oversees the operation 24/7. Ice is available and gasoline is on the way. Plans include a connected tackle shop and convenience store and extending the decks.
The casual menu includes burgers with nautical nametags, grilled chicken and grilled ham and cheese sandwiches, barbecues, club sandwiches, subs and pizza. Specialties include River Fries, a "riverfied" version of a popular beach item served with vinegar and Old Bay seasoning.
The restaurant offers beer and wine to enjoy there or as takeout items.
Pinnell and Boswell partnered in the venture with Frank and Connie Dawson, who dock their boat there.
Hours will be 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday year-round.
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Posted By: Shoogy's Mom(3:58pm 10-20-2008)
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My husband & I have stayed overnight at this marina a few times now & have eaten in the restaurant and love it. Not only is the food good and service excellent but the owners are very friendly and accomodating. They've done a great job on the rennovations too, making it the perfect place to hold meetings or parties. It's also a good excuse for downstream boaters to take a day trip through the locks & enjoy a lazy afternoon.
Posted By: Get Real(8:45pm 08-04-2008)
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First of all I wish this couple the best of luck with their idea and I will be glad to visit and try it out soon. To: I WIll Never - maybe they were frustrated with your lack of common sense and decency. When someone is trying very hard to accomplish something its extremely frustrating to have ill mannered disrespectful people come along. This thing about no sign - Since when do we have to post signs everywhere telling people what to do and how to act - Use your brain and some common sense! That's not the business's fault!! You sound like some immature child "No one ever told me not to do that"
Posted By: I WILL NEVER....(8:06pm 08-04-2008)
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I will NEVER PATRONIZE THIS PLACE. WHILE THEY WERE BUILDING, WE WERE IN OUR BOAT GOING VERY SLOW BECAUSE WE WANTED TO CHECK IT OUT. WE WERE YELLED AT VERY RUDELY. WE STOPPED AND ONLY THEN DID WE REALIZE THEY WERE YELLING AT US TELLING US IT WAS A NO WAKE ZONE. THERE ARE ZERO SIGNS POSTED BY THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS STATING SUCH. SO NO, THEY ARENT FRIENDLY. IM NOT THE ONLY BOATER WHO HAS BEEN TREATED RUDELY BY THIS BUNCH. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER...
Posted By: Dennis(5:32pm 08-04-2008)
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I had the pleasure of eating at the new restruant. The food was excellent, the service was great. We also got to spend the night on their docks. The hospatality was great. These are nice people to be around. We plan on returning and spending several more night there before the boating season ends.
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