Hello Alliance: Stop No. 359 on couple's tour of every Texas Roadhouse
ALLIANCE ‒ Just call them the Texas Roadhouse warriors.
This husband and wife from Franklin, Virginia, rolled into the restaurant parking lot on West State Street NW in a red 2012 GMC, one-ton pickup shortly after 3 p.m. Saturday. Clearly, there was something different about this pair of 70 year olds from Franklin, Virginia.
The couple was dressed in Roadhouse T-shirts and ball caps; a pair of Roadhouse earrings accented her outfit; he opted for a giant Roadhouse belt buckle.
Inside, staff was ready and waiting. A handwritten greeting on the lobby floor announced: "Welcome Mike & Judy McNamara. Get ready for your most LEGENDARY experience yet!"
"Get your picture," Judy told her husband, as he pointed his cellphone camera at the floor.
The word "legendary" is often used in advertising for the restaurant chain, founded 30 years ago.
"You're at the best Roadhouse there is," service manager Jake McIlvain told the couple before they were whisked away to a booth, where they'd be handed a gift basket full of goodies from Roadhouse and the Alliance area, in general.
The McNamaras are Roadhouse celebrities.
Goal is to visit all 600-plus locations
The visit was stop No. 359 on an ongoing tag-team tour of Texas Roadhouse locations.
Traveling with a 36-foot camper, and their dog, "Andy," a puggle, the McNamaras ate at a Roadhouse in Elkhart, Indiana, the day before and were due at one in Warren, Ohio, on Sunday. And yes, "Andy," is named for Andy Armadillo, the restaurant chain mascot.
The roots of the McNamara culinary journey date to 2003. That's when they first stepped foot into a Texas Roadhouse, in Knoxville, Tennessee. It didn't become their passion until 2017, after they'd both retired from their jobs at a paper mill.
"It's good food and we are meeting some wonderful people," Mike said of the restaurant employees and others, such as the mayor of Salt Fork, Utah, who picked up their bill on the visit there. "Texas Roadhouse is like one big family."
Along the way, they get to visit local sites, museums and national parks and enjoy their time together. They met in third grade and got married 51 years ago.
"We're not fancy people; we're country folk," Judy explained.
The current leg of their Roadhouse tour began on May 28 and will end on July 5, covering 26 locations. Later this summer, it's on to New York, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania. After that, it's a southern swing to a handful of states.
They'd like to visit all 600-plus Roadhouses.
But at their age, they are realistic.
"We average about 70-something a year, and they're building 40 to 45 new ones a year, so ...," Mike said, rattling off numerous states in which they've visited every Roadhouse.
Two small sirloins, medium well
Before each trip, the couple notifies the chain's corporate headquarters of their itinerary, so a special greeting is now the norm.
Julie Evanoff, marketing coach for 11 Roadhouse locations, including the store in Alliance, said she's not surprised it's the McNamaras' restaurant of choice.
"Consistency ... and atmosphere," she said of the chain, whose reputation has been built upon its steaks.
And steaks were on the menu for the McNamaras Saturday. Their orders were quite similar: 6-ounce sirloins, medium-well, side salads with thousand island dressing, and sweet teas — Judy went with a baked potato; Mike opted for a baked sweet potato.
They don't always get steaks.
Judy's fond of the chicken and shrimp; Mike likes chicken critters and pulled pork. No matter the dish, Judy always finishes hers before Mike is halfway through.
"She woofs it down," he said.
And usually there are some leftovers to take back to the camper.
That suits "Andy" just fine.
"He knows what a Styrofoam container is," Mike said.
When the McNamaras aren't eating at a Texas Roadhouse, they usually aren't eating out. Unless it's at a local favorite near their home, just over the North Carolina border, called Corapeake Country Restaurant.
"They have the best fried chicken," Judy said.
Reach Tim at 330-580-8333 ortim.botos@cantonrep.com.On Twitter: @tbotosREP
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Texas Roadhouse is stop No. 359 on Mike and Judy McNamara's tour
