MANSFIELD, Ohio–V&M Family Restaurant owners Shawn and Bobbie Riffe are expanding their business beyond Bellville and into Mansfield. They are partnering with former V&M owners Joe and Al Riffe in the opening of another V&M Family Restaurant at 1120 Lexington Avenue, where Derrenberger’s Family Restaurant was located.
Shawn Riffe said that he and his wife Bobbie were looking to expand the family business when they took it over a few years ago from his parents.
Joe and Al Riffe ran the V&M Family Restaurant in Bellville for approximately 25 years. About five years ago, they retired and spent their free time traveling. “But there was something missing,” said Joe Riffe. “Even though I felt at that time we were ready to get out of the restaurant business, now we feel we’d like to give it another try for a few years.”
V&M Family Restaurant is known for its warm and friendly atmosphere, excellent quality and good service for a reasonable price, said Joe Riffe. “And I think that’s what most people are looking for, so when this came up, we just seized the opportunity to make it happen,” he said.
Derrenberger’s officially closed on Saturday, Feb 28. Shortly after their closure, the Riffes began moving into their new location. “It’s been going okay,” Shawn Riffe said. “It’s a lot to do and it happened very fast for us.”
He said, “Two months ago, this wasn’t really on our radar. The opportunity came up and we moved very quickly on it. It’s been a little hectic, but overall it’s been good.”
They intend to open the restaurant this Wednesday, with initial hours set for 7 a.m. – 2 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. “Once we have our staff in place and we are comfortable, we’re going to expand to night time hours,” said Shawn Riffe.
Joe Riffe said the menu will be similar to what’s offered at the Bellville location. “Being the V&M, we want it to stay as much as we can the same…I’d say 95 percent of it will be V&M home-style cooking.”
Shawn Riffe said they offer items similar to “what your grandmother would have made for you–meat and potatoes, roast beef, meatloaf, creamed chicken over biscuits, ham loaf.”
“It’s good comfort food,” he said. “There’s nothing fancy about it, but it’s all homemade and it’s all done the right way.”
He added, “It’s food that you just don’t see any more. Home-style restaurants have gone away from it because it’s so much labor, there’s so much involved in it, but you’ll notice the difference the first time you sit down and eat it.”
V&M Family Restaurant in Bellville was established in 1954 by Virgil and Mildred Schroeder. Joe and Al Riffe purchased the restaurant in 1985.
The Bellville location will remain open under Shawn and Bobbie Riffe’s management.
Joe Riffe said that many of the former Derrenberger’s employees will be working at their new location, as will members of the Riffe family.
“It’s a family affair,” Shawn Riffe said.
“Being the V&M, we want it to stay as much as we can the same…I’d say 95 percent of it will be V&M home-style cooking,” said Al Riffe.
