The Harmful Roester

01/25/2026

French Dips & Philly Cheesesteak sandwiches
Buy one, get one free today. Beverage purchase required.

01/21/2026

Buy one get one free Marchese Galen Sandwiches today only!
And enjoy this throwback photo of Galen, the creator of this top selling sandwich!

01/20/2026

As I prepare to sell The Harmful Roester, I get to do the bittersweet task of publicly admitting when people are actually good at what they do. So… unfortunately for my ego, today that’s .

Jamison is the guy who comes flying into work when the crew sends out a 911 call for help — no questions, no whining, just immediate action. If the kitchen’s on fire (figuratively… mostly), he’s there. If the front of house is sinking, he’s already bailing water.

He takes real pride in his craft, which is annoying because it means he actually cares about doing things right, even when no one’s watching. He’s dependable, skilled, and “fairly” calm under pressure — three traits that do not belong together in restaurant people, yet here we are.
Now for the other side of Jamison.
He tells tall tales that are almost certainly not true. He is always singing—always—and never on key. His favorite menu item is any burger (commitment issues perhaps), and his go-to cocktail is a Captain & Coke.
Regrettably, Jamison claims to have no favorite memories from his time here. None. Zero. Which is either deeply philosophical or wildly concerning.
He says he’s never wanted to punch me in the throat (a stretch, allegedly), but he has considered smacking me upside the head a few times. Fair.
All sarcasm aside, Jamison is the guy you want in your corner. Solid. Reliable. Skilled. The kind of teammate you can count on when things go sideways. Unless he’s having a bad day—then just lock him out and try again tomorrow.
Jamison, thanks for everything. The Roester was better(ish) because you were here. Respect!

01/17/2026

As I prepare to sell The Harmful Roester, it seems only appropriate to publicly embarrass, I mean honor, one of the people who helped hold this place together: Jackie Nowicki.

About a year and a half ago, Jackie walked in during a Lions game wearing a vintage Goodwill Lions sweater that remains, to this day, the coolest sweater I have ever seen. She left with a Lions victory, a full stomach, and a job. Poor life choices were made that day. Mostly mine 😆

She claims her favorite drink is water with lemon, which we all know is a complete lie. But we let her say it anyway, because that’s who we are.

Her favorite memories here? The employee Christmas parties, which, objectively speaking, were pretty bad ass and only slightly chaotic.

Jackie is staying on with the new owners, and after seeing it, she’s most excited about the new menu.

She has openly admitted that she has wanted to throat punch me at least a dozen times, which is fair. I mean growth takes many forms🤷‍♂️

The Harmful Roester has always been about the people. Jackie is one of the best of them. 💙🦁

01/16/2026

Hannah Holmes.
Captured here sitting down on the job — an event so rare it deserved documentation. If you know Hannah, you know she’s a tried-and-true workhorse who has never missed a beat… with the one very reasonable exception of maternity leave (we’ll allow it).

Her go-to order is the Crunchy Chicken Wrap, paired with a Busche Latte 🤷‍♂️

While most people would name a single favorite memory, hers isn’t actually a moment at all — it’s the friendships she’s gained along the way. And that feels very on-brand for Hannah.

As we prepare to sell The Harmful Roester and turn the page, she’s most excited about the new layout the new owners will be bringing in — already thinking ahead, already invested, as usual.

And for the record, she’s only wanted to punch me in the throat one time.
Also justified. 😂

Hannah is the kind of person every place hopes for and never deserves — steady, loyal, and quietly holding everything together. Grateful doesn’t even begin to cover it.

Hannah, you are amazing and I've loved every minute I've worked with you!

01/16/2026

Due to an unfortunate incident involving Hank and Ethel, we will no longer be offering ax throwing 😆

01/15/2026

Galen Jennings.
Seen here in khakis and a nice shirt — a rare and beautiful sight, and also a carefully curated punishment. Anyone who knows Galen knows this outfit cost him more emotionally than any double shift ever did.

As I prepare to sell the business and start handing over the keys, it wouldn’t be right not to spotlight one of the staples. Galen’s favorite menu item is, naturally, the *Marchese Galen*
His go-to cocktail is either a Long Drink or Maker’s Mark bourbon — depending on how the day went and how many times I tested his patience.

His favorite memory here isn’t the rushes, the chaos, or even the wins — it’s cooking with his boy, Jake. And honestly, that tells you everything you need to know about the guy.

He’s genuinely excited about the new name & theme, which says a lot because Galen does not get excited easily. Unless it’s about the re-release of an 80's horror flick most people have never heard of.

And for full transparency: he’s only wanted to punch me in the throat three times.
All three were justified. 😂

Cheers to Galen — one of a kind, impossible to replace, and still willing to wear khakis for the team???

01/14/2026

Well… this one hurts a little.

I’ve officially found a buyer for the The Harmful Roester

It was sometimes about the food,
sometimes about the drink...
But it was always about the people—and the weird, beautiful chaos that came with them.
The staff who showed up day after day.
The regulars who became friends.
The strangers who walked in and left feeling like they belonged.

Thank you for showing up, supporting local, and making this place feel like home.
I’ll miss it more than I’ll ever admit in public!

Thank you to everyone who shared a meal, a drink, a laugh, or a hard conversation inside those walls. This place was built on community, and that part doesn’t change just because ownership does.

I’m equal parts sad and nostalgic, and pretending I’m totally fine about it. That said, I’m genuinely excited for what the new owners have planned. Watch for their upcoming posts and go support the hell out of them—they’re doing some really cool things!

To my staff who laughed, cried, argued, and celebrated with me, this place mattered. And so did you. You all were, and are the heart of this place💯

01/13/2026

Did you know that you can also get Wanda's famous cheesecake at Mancino's of Greenville!

Stop in soon for Wanda's famous homemade cheesecake!!

01/10/2026

We will have this Amazon streamed game on four TVs tonight! As a lions fan, if only they could both lose lol

12/27/2025

Stop down to The Harmful Roester and let Alyvia commit tasteful, yet legal arson behind the bar 🥃🔥
Our classic smoked Old Fashioned comes with fire, smoke, and just enough class to pretend it’s not your second one.