Peggy Fleming lives a dream through her Soul Food restaurant
by S. Rotan Hale
With the sounds of old school R&B, i.e. Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding, et. al., softly playing in the background with the aroma of barbecued chicken, collard greens, mack-n-cheese and other soul food favorites, swirling through the air–there’s no doubt–you’re at Gina’s Restaurant.
“Everything is home cooked,” says Peggy Fleming owner of the Salem restaurant that people in the area flock to.
Anyone who’s ever handled such an endeavor knows even the smallest eatery needs a good team.
In addition to her mother, Bethel, who helps in the restaurant’s day-to day operations Peggy’s small staff consisted of Sheridan Saunders a Virginia Western Community College student; Joseph Sparrow a Radford University senior, who’s been helping her since she opened and her niece Mariah Johnson, an Old Dominion University graduate. Presently she’s working with a new crew since the student’s September return to school.
“My mama taught me how to cook and my mother-in-law taught me how to cook with flavor.” she says.
The restaurant opened in July 2018 and Peggy said business was going extremely well– “the parking lot was full.” However the flow slacked off–cutting her business in half once the pipeline workers from the nearby factory were laid off.
Nonetheless, a sizable stream of regulars keep her and her crew hopping as they rotate the daily buffet specials–that offer a variety of soul food favorites as: smothered pork chops and chicken quarters, BBQ ribs, fried catfish and more. Each served with a choice of collard greens, mack-n-cheese, green beans, mashed potatoes and other delectable selections.
“Mama taught me how to cook when I was nine. She worked in a box factory and her hand was injured so she would put me up on a step-stool and I had to clean whole chickens and fry them. I also had to clean house, press hair and all that stuff at that age,” she said with a proud sense of accomplishment that was quite evident.
“Typically on an average weekday I serve between 20 to 30 guests–if it’s a good day and if it’s a great day I’ll serve 50,” she says. “Right now Fridays and Sunday’s are my busiest days although if I have a great Sunday it could take care of my whole week.”
“I think it’s because my menu has increased on Sunday with more of a variety. People are coming from church and also first and third Sunday’s we offer live entertainment.
“You’d be surprised at the groups that have come, we have a good time in here!”
The restaurant has featured such artists as keyboardist Rosco McFadden (and co), Jo Jo Stockton, singer/songwriter Charrissa Morrison and others who perform on the relatively small stage at Gina’s. Once she had a 10-piece band.
In addition to the local crowd, Gina’s draws patrons from as far away as Radford, Christiansburg and Virginia Tech.
“When the little old ladies come in curiously wondering–then they sit down and eat and start to smile, its like the biggest complement I can get because I know they know when they taste good home cooking.”
“I’m up here a couple of times a week, the food is excellent and it keeps me coming back,” said James “Bread” Bethel a satisfied customer who makes the trek from Roanoke to treat himself to Gina’s daily specials.
Peggy has two sons, Brent, 29, Brandon, 32, and three granddaughters most of which have helped in the restaurant at various stages. Peggy considers the restaurant a “family affair” and opened it in memory of her mother-in-law Regina Fleming.
In 2010 she was recognized and received an NAACP Award for business regarding her previous venture Showtime Catering that led to the opening of Gina’s.
The dine in or carry out restaurant that also offers catering, is located at 4145 West Main St. on the outskirts of Salem.
Hours are: Tues. and Wed. 11am – 2pm • Fridays 11am – 2pm/ reopen @ 4pm – 7pm and Sundays noon – 4pm. Call: (540) 404-3867.
