He’s not much for government, but Alex Coogan cares greatly about his Wheeling Island community.
That’s why, even after several establishments failed at 135 Virginia Ave., Eden’s Family Restaurant opened about a month before the pandemic forced its dining room to close to the public. Since, he, the other owners, and a few staff members have continued the eatery’s takeout and curbside services.
“Disappointed is not the right word. Sad? Angry? Both,” Coogan explained. “I am watching people post about going stir crazy, people who want to be out in the communities but are being held at home at gunpoint.
“We opened Eden so the people on Wheeling Island would have another nice restaurant to choose from, and we were prepared to counter the issues that have occurred at the location before us,” he said. “To have to close our dining room was tough for us because of all of the hard work all of us put into making it an attractive and safe place for families to bring their children.”
Family Style
While most menu items remain available, Eden’s also offers family style meals that are large enough to feed as many as six individuals. Along with the entrée, the meals come with side dishes and a large salad, too.
“We have the always popular meatloaf made by Dean (Barath) from Ideal provisions, and our tender beef tips are made of cut ribeye,” said Coogan, one five candidates running in Wheeling’s Ward 2. “We also have chopped steak, and the stuffed dishes we have, ham and swiss stuffed chicken, grilled stuffed chicken, and stuffed pork loin. They all feature our own special recipe stuffing that’s available nowhere else on earth.
“It’s been a tough go; I’m not going to lie. There are good days, and there are the really bad days that hurt,” he continued. “But Eden is no longer a dream. The restaurant is a reality, we are here to stay.”
Reliable
Coogan operates several other businesses, too, including Reliable Appliance and Reliable Lawn Care, and the entrepreneur also owns a plethora of rental homes.
“We now have extra workload and less support as other “non-essential” businesses are closed,” he said. “I need to add a truck to the fleet, and many small dealers are closed, and private sellers afraid to sell and ‘violate the law.’ That means my guys will work harder putting more stress on them and myself, but we will do what we need to keep providing the services. We came into this prepared both physically and mentally; our services are intertwined with so many others that we try to plan for all contingencies.
“Now, the rent payment policy has not changed; we will work with anyone and everyone always who cannot pay their rent,” he explained. “But right now, especially those who have been affected by this shutdown, if tenants stay in contact and are upfront about their situation, we will work with them. It has been the policy since we opened and is always explained up front. If you let us know, we will work with you. That communication is key, and our tenants know that.”
