The Riverside Restaurant at Brownwood

History of the Riverside restaurant

Built in 1918 by the R.T. Greer Company, the building was a handling and warehouse facility for roots and herbs gathered from the mountains. After being baled they were shipped on the Virginia Creeper Train to destinations around the world eager for the healing qualities of the native plants of the Appalachians. Harvest time brought wagons lined up to sell their harvest and the business became an anchor for a thriving Brownwood community with a general store, (owned by the Cooper family) and other businesses.

The community was decimated by the flood of 1940 and with the train no longer running it was never re built. This business was flooded to the second floor, but the building withstood the flood and is a sturdy monument to the craftsmanship of a bygone era. Purchased in 1946 by Buck Cooper, it became a supply store for local farmers and operated until 2005, then converted to a restaurant it is now owned and operated by the Cooper family.

A full history researched by the National Historical Society is on the wall to the left of the rear door of the restaurant and serves as a reminder of a simpler time, when people were connected to the land, knew their neighbors and relied on one another for their survival and well being. These traditional values are still alive here in the mountains and not only guide our daily lives but the future direction of our business.


Welcome to the Riverside!