By Billy Gibson
Reporter
March 24, 2006
The Mid City Grill on 110 Tipton Street in Johnson City has been in business since 2003 and is more alive today than ever. Recently, the restaurant was packed with students from Milligan, E.T.S.U. and others from the Tri-Cities area.
“We like to get out to places like Mid City because we are in class all day and late night is really the only time we have to … let loose,” said Milligan junior Zach Leonard. “There is good food that’s cheap and good times.”
Most everything that is not a nightclub serving alcohol in Johnson City shuts down around 10 p.m., which leaves students few places with a nice atmosphere to go hang out with friends.
“I came into downtown Johnson City thinking I would be open for lunch and dinner,” said Jeff Pike, owner and operator of the Mid City Grille.
However, after less than a month in business, Pike changed his hours.
“After three weeks of having no one here for dinner I realized that with the location I have downtown, nothing’s going on between 5 and 10 (p.m.),” Pike said. “Business starts picking up again here when the bars start hopping and that’s when we open.”
The Mid City Grill is no more than 10 minutes from Milligan’s campus. It is open from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday for lunch and 12 a.m. to 4 a.m. Wednesday through Saturday.
“Why not do something that’s open late?” Pike asked. “Not necessarily competing with the drive-thrus, Perkins and the Waffle House, but an alternative to those places that is more convenient to Milligan, to ETSU than going to North Johnson City.”
Instead of serving alcohol in his restaurant, Pike’s talent goes toward his excellent menu items, from ‘Tha Big Daddy’ to the Grilled-Organic Tofu.
Redevelopment on Tipton Street has brought the Grill near closing several times. The Urban Redevelopment Alliance plans for 22 residential condominiums as well as restaurant space.
Mid City Grill was officially prepared to close in January, but Pike was able to extend their lease until the end of this semester. Currently Pike is looking for another location where he could keep his same customer base and restaurant style.