Sources |
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 21 May 2006.
Just Plain Talk
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 27 Jul 2012.
July heat wave good time for comfort food
©2012 NPT PHOTO BY DAVID POPIEL
Denise Suggs, Bybee Market operator, is proud of her team of employees. On a summer day I was able to get this group together and they are, from left, Denise Suggs, Candice Bridges, Daveeta "Tootsie" Jacobson, and Brittany Gorrell.
Author: David Popiel
July heat stretches into its fifth Sunday with some promises of a cap on hometown temperatures, as restaurant and Cinema 4 theater visits surrounded by air conditioning beckon to us.
US Marshalls seized land auction
Mid-90s did not deter the curious or the bidders from the federal sale of the former Myers (Teague Chevrolet) building directly across West Broadway from the IGA. There already was a crowd when I arrived and among them representatives from several Newport churches who were interested in the three acres. When the last and winning $256,000 bid was placed, I was glad to see that Memorial Baptist Church folks had purchased the vacant property. There were several happy folks from the church to include the bidder, Tracy Jones, senior support pastor Alvin Watts, and Luke Bell. They were already keen to get renovation going and the church moved from where they share space at the Newport Presbyterian Church building, just over the hill. Of interest to me was to see Johnny Teague, son of the late former co-owner John Abe Teague, who was a partner with banker and businessman J. Lacy Myers. It was Teague the senior who approached the Hedrick sisters in the late 1940s to buy three acres along the highway. Historian Eddie Walker was at the July 26 11 a.m. sale and said he could never recall any dwellings on thsat particular tract but recalled it was farmland. Teague was a visionary and eventually convinced Myers to move the Chevy dealership from near the county courthouse to the new location. Another man of vision came along years later and bought the dealership and moved it: Cleo Stinnett was also there at the sale. Now, this little fact astonished me. When getting names of the Williams & Williams auctioneers, one fellow from Columbus, Mississippi said, "John Hedrick." He was also impressed when I told him he had helped sell a portion of the original Hedrick farm.
Time for cool fixin's at Bybee
Some weeks ago, as I have previously mentioned to you, I dropped into the Bybee Market to meet the new operator and employees, chat with them, and tell you about the business and its great food and friendly welcome. It seems they know everyone by name who walks in and out. And, it was no surprise to me that a new operator had been running the Bybee Market, as Charlie Cobble gave me the news earlier in the year and invited me to stop by. His girlfriend took the business over. And, months ago I accidentally found out that this woman is a twin to Stinnett Automotive sales rep. Dennis Suggs. Denise is not nearly as old, being born about 15 minutes after her brother. It was an 85-degree late morning when I arrived. Robert Bible was at the gas pump with his vehicle and boat heading to the French Broad at Rankin to go catfishing. Bobby Haun, a retiree from Lowland and commercial farming, was eating some of the homemade chicken alfredo.
The gals were busy waiting on tables, making up food orders or ringing up sales. They wear blue or gray T-shirts with the store's motto on the back: "Home of the Sub." And, I'll explain this claim later. Denise was in high gear attending to several chores so I sat at a table and watched the scene. What I thought about was the news photo I made many years ago at night when a car crashed into the block front wall. I am sure there are many memories and events connected to this place.
When Denise could sit a minute we talked about her family. There are three children, the other being Donald Suggs Jr. Their father was killed in a car accident December 1964. At the time he was married to Delores (Webb) Suggs, who was better known as "Floss." I thought to myself, that's close to the name of Gay Webb's late wife, Floss, and you know they ran Wilton Springs Market. Donald senior's parents were Bill and Edith Suggs of Mannings Chapel. Denise explained that the year her father was killed he was working late nights at Wall Tube and the crash happened on his way home. Later, Floss had two other children: Keith Fine, and Tootsie Jacobson. Delores, who is 75, lives at Parrottsville near Charlie and Denise, where they have made a home together for about 16 years. Also nearby is his mother, Helen Cobb, 94. She still does a full garden each year.
Serving folks is her life
It didn't take long to see that Denise has always been a hardworker. She grew up in Newport and her first job was waitressing for L.V. and Arlene Davis at the Newport Restaurant. Later she joined Cracker Barrel for nine years and then Ryan's Steakhouse in Greeneville for more than nine years where she was a supervisor. Incidentally, it was at Cracker Barrell that she met Charlie, who was a frequent customer.
At the end of her days in Greeneville, Janet Croxdale was running Bybee Market. The building is owned by Vaughn and Carolyn Smith, who live upstairs. This was handy when Vaughn was the market operator starting in 1968. At first, Denise started working with Janet, that was in August 2008, and by 2012 Janet decided to retire and Denise took over the business February 1. This year the Bybee Market is recognized in the Newport Plain Talk People's Choice awards to appear in Mid-August.
"I love doing this," she said, except the paperwork, over which she prefers the people, who seem to like the steady good meals. She knows that the senior men who have no cook at home depend on Bybee Market so she keeps rather long hours: 5:30 a.m. until 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
Bybee Highway, as it is known, Highway 160, remains a major route into Hamblen County where a lot of folks work. Many stop for breakfast, biscuits and gravy, eggs and bacon or country ham, and my favorite, waffles. Denise is no stranger to the kitchen, learning her skills from Grandma Suggs, who also taught her to bake. Denise arrives early not only to help with breakfast but to prepare the lunches. She recommends her special meatloaf on Tuesday. "I fix 10 pounds." Friday is salmon patties; Sunday ribs and chicken, especially for the Bybee Methodist Church members; and other dishes-"I mix it up."
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