The Shadow
COVINGTON, VA (VR) – Tucked into the heart of the community, City Café & Brewery, owned by Jeannie Boguess, is quickly becoming a welcoming place to enjoy homemade food, delicious desserts, and a relaxed atmosphere. Open daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., the café offers a spot where friends gather, families share meals, and visitors slow down to enjoy fresh, homemade flavors.
What inspired you to open City Café & Brewery?
The idea came about naturally. I was working as a general manager at Hardee’s and stopped by another business we owned in town while wearing my work uniform. People started asking why I didn’t open something like that here. They kept saying our town needed something different.
Eventually, I found a small location on Hawthorne Street that reminded me of my grandmother’s house—warm, cozy, and inviting—and that’s the atmosphere I wanted to create.
From the start, my goal was simple: serve fresh, homemade food. Our buns and meats come from Bartley’s Meat Market, and we try to source vegetables locally from Wiley’s Garden Center when they’re in season.
Have you always enjoyed cooking?
Yes. I’ve been cooking since I was young. After my mother passed away when I was ten, I spent summers with my grandmother, and many of the recipes we use today come from her. Her meatloaf recipe, for example, includes a special sauce she taught me to add, and it’s become one of our most popular dishes.
What are some customer favorites?
Our cheeseburgers with hand-cut fries are very popular because everything is made fresh to order. Our meatloaf has also become a favorite and now has its own spot on the menu as “Meatloaf Thursday.”
What makes your café different?
Everything is fresh and homemade. Most meals are cooked when ordered so customers receive food that’s just been prepared.
What should first-time visitors try?
The burgers are always a great choice, especially the Keith Western Burger, a barbecue bacon cheeseburger topped with jalapeños, pepper jack cheese, onion straws, and a pickle. For dessert, the homemade coconut cream pie with toasted coconut is a favorite.
What are your future plans?
I’d love to add outdoor seating where people can relax and watch the trains, and eventually install a ramp so the café is more accessible to everyone.
Learn More:
Facebook: City Café & Brewery
Phone: 540-620-5589
