PORTSMOUTH, Va. - Like any good, competitive sports team - Roger Brown's Restaurant and Sports Bar may have been down, but it was not out.
More than four months ago, News 3 visited the establishment on iconic High Street in Portsmouth and learned the pandemic and its restrictions had taken away roughly 90 percent of Roger Brown's business. To try and recoup some losses, owner Curtis Lyons launched a grocery and market - selling everything from desserts and vegetables to toilet paper.
"Eggs are very popular. Chicken, I guess, cannot be found in the stores - so we sell a lot of chicken," Lyons told News 3 reporter Anthony Sabella at the time.
But here in August, Roger Brown's is back to what it calls a 'somewhat-normal' menu as it is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Additionally, with the return of many professional sports leagues, fans are able to again watch live sports.
"We're just trying to follow the guidelines, get our employees back to work and get our kitchen open for our guests," Lyons told News 3's Adam Winkler Tuesday. "We have our big screens going. We now have baseball, golf - we have basketball going. We do have sports on TV again, and we're looking forward to the NFL season."
The restaurant's namesake, 6-time NFL Pro Bowl selection Roger Brown, regularly visits the establishment to assist his partner and nephew, Curtis.
Brown, who is a member of three Halls of Fame including the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame, knows the virus is unlike any opponent he's seen throughout his decorated career.
"You can't just beat it," Brown said. "You have to depend on so many other people to help you beat it."
Roger Brown's Restaurant & Sports Bar
316 High St, Portsmouth, VA 23704
Call (757) 399-5377 for orders
Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Wed-Sun
