Paul Post photo
By Paul Post
The name is the same, but Mr. Bill’s Carhop has a new year-round takeout and delivery service under owners Beatrice and Mike Greenough, who purchased the popular South Glens Falls eatery on August 31.
They’re giving the business a complete makeover, from new menu offerings to a newly-paved parking lot and a safer, more welcoming children’s playground. In place of large red-and-white umbrellas out front, plans call for a covered pavilion to keep customers dry when it rains, and hosting twice-monthly car and bike shows along with Elvis-type live entertainment next summer.
“I really want to make this a fun place in South Glens Falls to go,” Beatrice said.
The venture is right in tune with her entrepreneurial husband’s mindset.
“I love the 50s theme,” Mike said. “There will be music playing all the time. We’re going to neon the heck out of this place. As long as lights aren’t flashing you can have as many as you want. I’ve always been a people person. That’s why I’m in business.”
Sweethearts since high school, the couple grew up and live in Hudson Falls where they’ve owned and run Greenough Paving Company for the past 23 years.
“Three kids, seven grandchildren later here we are,” Beatrice said.
Along the way they’ve also owned an auto repair shop, auto sales business, an oil company and the former Smart Wash car wash sites, which they’ve since sold to Tidal Wave, in South Glens Falls and Queensbury.
“Mike tried multiple things and always went back to the paving company,” Beatrice said. “I guess that’s our calling.”
But after years of managing the office and handling paperwork she wanted to step out on her own and try something different; leaving the paving firm’s office work in the hands of her capable daughter, Krystal Knapp.
This summer, Beatrice learned that Mr. Bill’s was for sale and quickly closed on the $650,000 purchase, from former owners Jerry and Bonnie LaBarr. The drive-in restaurant started out years ago as an A&W store, became Zookie’s (Zookie dogs are still on the menu) and was renamed Mr. Bill’s when Bill Smith bought it. The LaBarrs purchased it in 2014.
The Greenoughs’ seasonal paving business takes off in winter, giving Mike plenty of time to help his wife get Mr. Bill’s going with new equipment such as clamshell griddles that make sure food is always prepared consistently and served up hot.
They’re investing nearly a quarter-million dollars worth of upgrades in addition to the purchase price.
“Everything will just be a push of a button,” Beatrice said. “Burgers take 90 seconds to cook. You can do six at a time. We only use a blend of fresh ground chuck and brisket paddies, not frozen.”
New menu items include sausage, pepper and onion; pulled pork; and wings will be coming soon as well.
The main reason for staying open in winter is to provide year-round work for valuable employees such as front-end manager Debbie Hayes. Finding and keeping good help is quite difficult these days, especially for a seasonal business such as this one.
“If I can just pay the bills the first winter, I’m good,” Beatrice said. “That’s my goal.”
The Greenoughs normally spend winters at their Cape Coral home in Florida when the paving business comes to a halt.
“The new clamshell griddles will get here at the end of November,” Beatrice said. “We want to make sure they’re installed properly and everybody’s trained. So we figured we might as well stay here for Christmas with the grandkids and kids.”
There’s no outdoor seating in winter, but customers can call ahead or place orders online (mrbillsny.net), go to the takeout window and eat in their cars. Mr. Bill’s also makes deliveries with Uber Eats and DoorDash.
Before buying Mr. Bill’s, Beatrice considered purchasing Starky’s Grill on Burgoyne Avenue in Hudson Falls, a deal that never materialized. But she did a great deal of research about the restaurant business, which helped prepare her as the new co-owner, with Mike, of Mr. Bill’s.
“I’m still learning, but we’re just entrepreneurs,” Beatrice said. “It’s just who we are. We dive in and figure it out. I’ve done a lot of reading. I know what cost to have on each plate that goes out of here.”
Eventually, they might even add drive-through service, which became extremely popular with fast-food restaurant patrons during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“You don’t see people eating inside much anymore,” Beatrice said. “Cars are backed up out to the highway.”
But one of Mr. Bill’s main attractions is its outdoor seating, which will return next spring when warm weather arrives.
Mr. Bill’s is open from noon to 7 p.m. Thursday to Monday, closed Tuesday and Wednesday.