When you walk into the Fort Wright restaurant, you will see waitresses taking orders, friends having a meal together and most likely a guy sitting at the bar watching Jeopardy.

You will also smell freshly cut fries, ground beef being cut up into burgers and many other tempting aromas.

The Fort Wright restaurant was founded in 1986 in a small shopping center with lots of small businesses.

 It takes all kinds of people to keep the lights on in this small-town restaurant.

“I was 13 when I started working here and have been here for 33 years,” said Van Gellis,  part-owner and chef at Fort Wright restaurant.

Running a restaurant comes with its challenges.

“I experience stress daily, doing the day-to-day operations, taking care of the scheduling and ordering,” Gellis said.

The constant pressure highlights the demands that come behind the scenes in keeping this restaurant running smoothly.

“I enjoy the pay, and it provides a good living, but I wish I had more time with my family,” said Gellis.

Peak hours at this restaurant shift depending on the day, but the staff is prepared to serve its customers.

“10 a.m. to 1 p.m. is usually our busy time during the week, and open and close is when we are busy on the weekends,” said Gellis.

Everyone has a favorite dish, but the answer depends on who you ask.

“The burgers are delicious, but you can’t go wrong with a ham sandwich with lettuce and mayo,” Gellis said.

Two ladies are sitting down together having lunch and watching a kid eat a massive double-decker sandwich.

As prices continue to climb across the industry, this business continues to work hard to stay competitive.

“The prices need to be lower because a good meal shouldn’t be so expensive,” said Shirley Weaver, a server at the Fort Wright restaurant.

Everyone who works here can have a different experience depending on the situation.

“A customer said that [the] busboy was checking you out, and I said, ‘ Really? That busboy is my son,” said Weaver.

Fort Wright restaurant offers a variety of dishes from omelets to double-deckers. As part of its 40th anniversary celebration, the Fort Wright restaurant is serving burgers for four dollars and the deluxe version for four dollars and fifty cents.

Everyone learns something different from their time working here.

“There are still a lot of good people in this world,” said Weaver.

People gather at tables and booths to discuss many different topics and enjoy delicious meals.

This group works together and has built a special bond.

“In some way, we are all related, one big family,” said Weaver.

People come for the food but stay for the atmosphere and the sense of community. This restaurant continues to serve the people of this small town as if they were family.

When you step inside, it almost feels like an episode of “Cheers.”

The Fort Wright restaurant has 40 years of family-friendly service and delicious food.