The concept of Jack Mason's Tavern in Clifton Forge was first envisioned by Martha Mason Atherholt in the fall of 2008. She chose the name in tribute to her grandfather, Jack Hiram Mason, whom she admired for his many and varied accomplishments.

The tavern/restaurant located at 400 E. Ridgeway Street, Clifton Forge, opened Thursday with a ribbon cutting sponsored by the Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce.

The owners, Martha Atherholt and Wendy Hudler, have been working on the tavern for 14 months, which entailed work for six months on the outside of the building and eight months on the inside. Atherholt said it took a lot of hard work to change a hardware store into the tavern but the two are very proud of what they have accomplished and believe the public will enjoy it also.

Atherholt and Hudler used all local materials including the wood for the bar, tables and other fixtures and used all local labor in the construction of the tac=vern. They have hired 18 employees to serve the public and the hours will be from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Atherholt also said that the menu would be very modestly priced with nothing costing more than $9.99.

The front of the tavern has some tables where customers can sit and watch the trains in the CSX yard as they have their meal and drinks. There is a long bar that is handmade from local lumber and will seat 12 people. There are three booths in the rear, all handmade by local craftsmen. There is a game room which will serve as a second dining room with two pool tables, pinball machine and video games. There are televisions throughout and an ATM machine.

Atherholt said the Jack Mason's Tavern was built on the
European style tavern that is a meeting place for friends to come and meet and enjoy themselves with drinks and good food and to try their skills in the game room.

Atherholt said that her grandfather, Jack Hiram Mason, was a Renaissance man who is defined as one who excels in a wide variety of subjects or fields and an entrepreneur who is defined as someone who creates value by offering a product or service and by carving out a niche in the market that may not exist currently.

Jack Mason was truly a Renaissance man and a highly successful entrepreneur. He would have been delighted to see his granddaughter Martha carrying on his talents into the 21st century. He was happy, fun-loving, and would have enjoyed an evening of good food and beverage and the company of good friends in this community gathering place that bears his name. "You would probably have found him at one of the tables after a hearty meal playing a tight game of checkers or cribbage or shooting pool in the game room," Atherholt said.

"So lift a glass in toast to Jack and enjoy your time at JMT," she concluded.