New and old family-owned businesses thrive in Clarksburg's community

Mi Segunda Casa Cafe and Food Truck, located at 240 Park Blvd., offers dine-in, takeout or catering. Owner Arnulfo Jaime, opened his restaurant in February.

“I saw that were was a lot of food trucks and decided to do our own to see how it goes,” Jaime said. “It is a new concept that brings new opportunities.”

Jaime previously worked at El Rincon in Bridgeport.

“There is not many restaurants on this side of Clarksburg,” he said. “We are trying it out to see how the community will like it.”

Throughout the summer, Jaime plans to take his food truck to Palatine Park in Fairmont every weekend.

Fajitas and street tacos are popular dishes ordered from the food truck, Jaime said.

The cafe is open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Mexican sweet bread, Mexican coffee and rice pudding are a few favorites, said Gloria Martinez, store manager.

“People ask for sweet bread and hot coffee,” she said. “We make our coffee with chocolate and cinnamon.”

While new family restaurants continue to emerge, there are some that have stood the test of time.

Parkette Family Restaurant has been family-owned and operated since 1955.

The business continues to flourish thanks to its faithful customers who regularly stop by for a coffee, conversation and food.

“I would say 50% of our customers come in multiple times a week or more than that,” said Logan Lehosit, co-owner.

Lehosit has been part of the day-to-day operations since childhood and now helps his father run the business.

“I was in here since I was 5,” Lehosit said.

“As a kid, my grandfather gave me 25 cents for every box I folded. I’ve been in this place a long time and I know every in and out of it.”

Jeffery Swisher, resident of Doddridge County, has been a loyal customer visiting the store daily since 1965.

“I’ve worked for 36 years at Harry Green and it was convenient to come here,” Swisher said. “The food is excellent, I’ve never had anything bad here and the staff is excellent. It is a good place to come eat.”

A favorite menu item is the ribeye special with onion rings, Lehosit said.

“We go through about 350 pounds of ribeye a week just for the sandwiches,” he said.

The meat that is not sliced for ribeye is used for other menu items such as, hamburgers, meatballs and chili, Lehosit said.

“We make our onion rings by hand. We get a batter out of Michigan that we doctor up. We go through about 150 pounds of onions a week,” he said.

Parkette is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The restaurant is closed every Monday and is located at 2022 E Pike St. in Clarksburg.

“We are so fortunate to have a good atmosphere, customers and staff,” Lehosit said.

On 342 W. Main St. in Clarksburg is a restaurant that is called “great place for lunch,” according to their menu. Open Monday thru Friday, the Bluebird is a one-stop shop for groceries and a meal.

“I have been coming here forever,” said Linda Gibson. “Sometimes I come up and get dinner or just dinner. There food is excellent.”

Fried chicken and rice pudding two of her favorite food items, Gibson said.

“Bluebird fried chicken has been the #1 seller throughout the years,” said Eric Leaseburg, who has owned and operated the restaurant for last 27 years.

“The Bluebird is over 100 years old,” he said.

For a century, businesses have come and gone in the Clarksburg area, but with the help of loyal customers, the Bluebird has thrived.

“Big employers have left town in the years we’ve been here, but thank God with some of my really good customers and faithfuls, we have been able to get through some of those businesses leaving and even thrived after it happened,” Leaseburg said.

“There are always challenges in a small business,” Leaseburg said. “If you don’t have customers you don’t have anything.”

“The people here are very friendly,” Gibson said. “Everybody who comes in will speak to you.”

Each day of the week, the Bluebird offers a daily specific menu.

For example, every Monday, the restaurant offers bean soup and cornbread, baked chicken and spaghetti.

“We do a little bit of everything,” Leaseburg said. “We also have groceries and an Italian specialty section. We do a lot of different things to keep this ship rolling.”

Leaseburg hopes business will continue to grow in Clarksburg so more people will visit and support local restaurants.

Just across the street from the Bluebird at 327 W Main St is Johnny D’s.

Gyros, hoagies and soups are customer favorites, said co-owner Billy Bebber.

“The cheese steak hoagies are number one,” Bebber said. “We have our gyros and italian hoagies and all the soups are homemade.”

With 40 years of experience in the food industry, Bebber has been able to craft his soup recipes making them fan favorites in Clarksburg.

“I just came up with the recipes on my own ... just putting in a little bit of everybody’s secrets they’ve had in their recipes and I made my own up.”

A soup and salad bar is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., catering to those who have limited lunch breaks.

“I put that up for people that work downtown and only get 30 minutes to an hour for lunch,” Bebber said. “All they have to do is come in, pay for their food, sit down and eat. There is no wait.”

Located across the street from the Bluebird, Johnny D’s was opened in the year 2000.

“It is a good atmosphere in here, the customers are great,” Bebber said.