Commercial Truck Insurance in Toccoa, GA

BLUE RIDGE, Ga. — A popular restaurant in North Georgia is fed up with unruly children, so it’s charging a fee for poor parenting.

The Toccoa Riverside Restaurant outside Blue Ridge has sparked a backlash online from customers who consider the surcharge extreme.

One recent customer posted this on Reddit, “The owner came out and told me he was adding $50 to my bill because of my children’s behavior... disappointed by the experience.”

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Channel 2′s Bryan Mims traveled to Blue Ridge where he spoke with the restaurant owner, Tim Richter, who declined an on-camera interview.

Richter said he started the surcharge a few years ago during the COVID-19 outbreak.

He never threatened to charge anyone until a couple of weeks ago when a family with nine children visited.

He described the children as “running all over the restaurant.”

Richter said he never actually charged the family, only giving them a warning.

“We want parents to be parents,” he said.

The restaurant is in a picturesque locale tucked away in the mountains and perched along the Toccoa River.

During lunchtime and dinner, a long line of cars stretches along the roadside.

Customer Laura Spillman, visiting from Florida, was incredulous when hearing about the policy.

“That is crazy,” she said. “For real? I don’t think you should do it because kids are cute.”

Anne Cox, stopping by for lunch with her family, said she thinks the fee could motivate parents to control their children.

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“Parents need to teach kids etiquette,” she said. “They need to teach kids to behave. There are other people in the world, so they should have fun in the right place.”

Federico Gambineri came to the restaurant with his toddler.

“This is the first time I’ve heard of that, and having a 20-month-old that maybe isn’t the best behaved at a restaurant, I’m hoping that I don’t get charged,” he said. “I feel that if I were charged, I would be very unhappy about it and probably never recommend the place to somebody.”

Jack Schneider is a regular at the restaurant but has never heard about the surcharge.

“I have mixed emotions on that,” he said. “At the same time, we’ve all sat next to tables where you say hey, do something with that kid. So I really think it’s more on the parents.”

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As its name suggests, The Schoolhouse Vendor Market is located in a beautiful old brick schoolhouse, which turns out to be a wonderful place to showcase antiques because the former high-ceilinged classrooms, most with windows, lend themselves to displaying vintage and antique wares in their best light.

Below are two of the many beautiful displays I saw here.

I’ll take it!

Like many antique malls, different vendors have different tastes, so it isn’t uncommon for a shopper to find several things in one booth that they love and nothing that catches their eye in the next. This is what happened to me when I visited this shop.

There was nothing in the first few rooms I visited that I felt I needed, but then I hit a booth where I liked everything.

This one had several sets of vintage ceramic salt and pepper shakers made in Japan reasonably priced at $6 a pair. I picked up these adorable deer and cute elephants, and also these stunning, deep yellow sunflower yellow bowls by Indiana Glass.

The bowls were a little pricey, and since I planned on purchasing several items from the same vendor, I asked if I could get a discount. We called the vendor, and although she said she couldn’t take anything off of the salt and pepper shakers (no surprise since they were already such a good deal), she did give me a $5 discount on the yellow bowls. I’ll take it!

Moving on, I found a few small prints that I liked for around $6 each. Small prints sell well for me and I particularly liked this retro print of the girl with cats because it has been embellished with embroidery, adding another layer of cuteness.

Vendor booths for rent

As I strolled through the rooms and down the hallways of this spacious building, I noticed several signs noting vendor spaces for rent. When I was there, there were a few whole rooms for rent and also some small shelf spaces.

If some readers of this column are interested in easing into the vintage or antique business, it might be worth checking out the details. This mall has several things going for it. It hosts events like car shows and fall festivals that drive traffic to its vendors. Also, the space is curated, meaning booths aren’t allowed to look junky. This is good for everyone.

The Savvy Picker cannot say whether or not a booth here would be profitable for you; you’ll have to do your own research by reaching out to the owners through their website and Facebook page and asking questions to determine this. I always ask what percentage of vendors make a profit, how often rates are likely to increase, and what percentage of profit the mall takes. Add your own questions to these!

A newer mall will usually take longer to start turning a profit, but it also offers opportunities to get in on a business from the start. Once a mall is established, it usually ends up with a waiting list of people hoping to get in.

TSP Takeaway

The Schoolhouse Vendor Market is definitely worth a stop. Drop in and meander through the utterly charming old classrooms and hallways. And take your time. You don’t need to worry about the chime of school bells rushing you along!

The shop is located at 2332 Mize Road in Toccoa, Georgia.

Who should visit: Lovers of vintage and antique items who like spacious malls with great displays.

Score of the day: Vintage Salt and Pepper Shakers from Japan

Predicted profit on shakers: $28

Re-seller takeaway: If you’re purchasing multiple items from one particular booth, it is a good time to ask for a discount.

For more great reads and finds, click here. For additional tips on tracking vintage treasures, visit The Savvy Picker website.

TOCCOA, Ga. —

A group of actors from the 2001 HBO series "Band of Brothers" have come together to honor the service members they portrayed and it's all happening at a historic camp in Toccoa, Georgia.

It was a place where tens of thousands of military service members trained. For the first time in 80-plus years, parachute training is back at Camp Toccoa.

"Everybody that's here understands the significance of this place and this site. To have that training come back here is just amazing," Board member for Camp Toccoa, Brad Retting said.

They're considered a band of brothers in their own right and have come back together to honor the original "Easy" Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, of the 101st Airborne Division for the 80th anniversary of D-day.

All Airborne Battalion, a nonprofit organization that focuses on conducting a number of operations to honor the legacy of service members before them, has been in charge of training the actors.

"To bring them back to where their heroes trained and to being them back essentially they were made, the company as a whole was made is truly the power behind this project," All Airborne Battalion president, Darren Cinatl said.

For the actors themselves, many said it was surreal.

"To still be talking about it 24 years later in the actual place where these guys trained, the original airborne, its quite emotional," Mark Lawrence who played Cpl. William H. Dukeman Jr said.

The men of Easy Company created a bond so strong that it has transcended time and people. So that bond they created during the Second World War still exists with us," Douglas Spain, who played Technician Fifth Grade Antonio C. Garcia said.

The actors fully immersed themselves in the experience from the training, to living in the barracks, to enjoying a MRE.

All preparing to do just like the men they portrayed did and parachute into Normandy.

"It just means so much to me. What these guys did for us, the greatest generation and to be here where they started out, where they became a band of brothers it's overwhelming," Lawrence said.

"The fact that he made a decision to 82 years ago has affected my life today. Because of him I am here. It's just tremendous and it's like I love Tony Garcia," Spain said.

"To just kind of follow in his footsteps, just a tiny piece — it's one of the greatest things I have ever done," Lawrence said.

There will be a documentary of the cast's trip from Toccoa to Normandy. If you would like to learn more, click here.

In picturesque northeast Georgia sits Toccoa, a charming small town abounding in natural wonders. It stands near the border with South Carolina and is nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, an area renowned for its geographic beauty. According to Explore Georgia, “Toccoa offers more than 75 national and local stores, an award-winning downtown, and suburban shopping centers. On Main Street, explore specialty shops, wander through the art galleries, and tour the renovated courthouse.” It’s also located in Georgia’s wine country and in addition to waterfalls and parks has an inviting vineyard that’s ideal for a day spent sipping amidst mountain breezes.

According to Explore Georgia, “At 186 feet high, Toccoa Falls is one of the tallest (taller than Niagara Falls) freefalling waterfalls east of the Mississippi.” You can find it on the campus of Toccoa Falls College, where it’s surrounded by beautiful Georgia woodland. Pay a small fee to see the falls, which are located down a pathway from the college’s Gate Cottage. Other waterfalls in the Toccoa area include the Panther Creek Falls, Homestead Falls, and Filmy Fern Falls.

Wine lovers should plan a stop at this picturesque vineyard. According to Currahee Vineyard and Winery, “In 2008 Marvin Dunson began to think about using the family farm to produce wines. The family farm, at the base of beautiful Currahee Mountain, had once been an apple orchard owned by Marvin's parents. By 2009 planting had begun that would ultimately lead to award winning wines.” The family-owned winery has produced many new wines made with native grapes like muscadines.

Near Toccoa is the northernmost portion of Lake Hartwell, which is one of the biggest lakes in the South that’s widely used for recreational activities like boating, swimming, and paddling. There are also camping opportunities near the lake. Fishing is a huge draw at Lake Hartwell, as the waters are home to catfish, bream, crappie, and striped and hybrid bass.

This pretty park is located on Henderson Falls Road in Toccoa. According to Explore Georgia, “Immediately adjacent to downtown, this park includes 25 acres of scenic beauty full of play areas, an amphitheater, tennis courts, picnic pavilions, a beautiful waterfall, covered bridge, and nature trail. It's a pleasant place to visit and picnic if you are in town to see the main attraction of Toccoa Falls.” Whether you love to hike or just want to soak up the beautiful landscape of Georgia, this is the best spot to take it all in.

Put on the ritz with a visit to Toccoa’s Historic Ritz Theatre, which is located on Main Street. Built in 1939, it started its life as a movie theater and it’s now home to summer movie series and live concerts throughout the year.

Everyone’s favorite sub shop in this area is Brother John’s Sub and Sandwich, where you can find a menu full of filling sandwiches like hot and cold subs served with chips and a pickle, as well as hot dogs, gyros, and salads.

The exposed rock summit at the top of Currahee Mountain near Toccoa is a popular spot for hiking, climbing, and embarking on adventures in nature. Caves in the area also beckon outdoorsy types for excursions underground.

Launch a kayak or a canoe in the Tugaloo River and traverse the Tugaloo River Water Trail. According to the Stephens County Foundation, “The Tugaloo River Water Trail includes the 10-mile stretch of the Tugaloo River from Yonah Dam and Panther Creek to Broken Bridges and the upper reaches of Lake Hartwell. This area is known as the Tugaloo Corridor and is the only remaining free-flowing section of the Tugaloo River.” Find a paddle guide of the water trail here.

Yesterday, work began to remove the yellow train car from its moorings in the parking lot at the corner of North Sage and East Tugaloo streets. As the caboose was loaded onto a flatbed truck yesterday afternoon, several residents paused to comment on the landmark’s long history in the community.

The caboose was brought to Toccoa by the VanderWoude family after they purchased the adjacent building at the corner of North Sage and Doyle Street from the City of Toccoa in 2004 to open the Whistle Stop Antique mall as the sister location to their first store, the Whistle Stop Depot in Franklin, NC.

As the city prepares for construction to begin on the Tugalo Street Greenspace, The VanderWoude family is moving the caboose to a private residence to protect the historic train car, and to open up parking spots for the greenspace, according to city officials.

As previously reported by WNEG News, The City of Toccoa received a Rural Downtown Redevelopment Grant in July of 2022 from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs for the construction of a greenspace.

Then-city manager Billy Morse told WNEG News that the greenspace was planned for the existing Tugalo Street Parking area.

He said, “This is a special opportunity, this is a one-time opportunity that the Georgia Department of Community Affairs is offering for a Downtown Redevelopment Grant. The good news is that the state is going to match our 10 percent with their 90 percent, so all we have to do is come up with 10 percent for our project. What we are proposing with this grant is to create a green space, stage, and restroom facilities in the existing Tugalo Street public parking area, along with complimentary streetscape improvement in the parking lot on the opposite side of this property near the railroad on that side of that parking lot.”

The city is currently accepting bids from qualified general contractors for the “Construction of a new City Park by modifying and partially replacing the existing parking lot at East Tugalo Street (GA Hwy 184), between North Pond Street and North Sage Street, and Rice-Lewis-Gilliard Way,” which is the south alley of the parking lot.

Bids are due by noon on Friday, November 3. The details of the Tugalo Street Greenspace Project are available in the project manual.