It sits just off of Route 1. Its parking lot spills into the beaten dirt clearing that latecomers manage to squeeze their cars into. Upon entry, it can feel overcrowded, with people packed into every corner. You are lucky to find an empty bar seat. The chatter of conversations mixed with music fills the bar with seemingly no end to the noise. The bartenders whirl around the bar, serving customers with a smile. Before regulars can place an order, the bartenders meet them with a simple question: “The usual?” To an outsider, the Red Rooster Bar and Grill is just a small dive bar.
To us, a trip to “The Roo” is a Friday night family tradition with little that could interrupt it. Arriving early is crucial to ensure we get a big enough table to fit our family comfortably. We unfold the third row of the car and pack ourselves in tightly. Our short ride ends when we see the iconic rooster logo on a sign hanging on the side of the building. Excited with the anticipation of familial comradery, we sit around the table together. Papa faces inward toward the bar- the perfect spot to soak up the joy of his family as he enjoys his martini to kick off the night. He sits hand in hand with Nana, representing the foundation upon which we were all built. Uncle John and Cousin Luke mimic each other as they order the same beer and bond as if generations are repeating themselves in front of my eyes. Mom and Auntie JJ sip on an espresso martini, catching up on a week’s worth of life after the many they have spent side by side. Cousin Liv likes her vodka sodas with extra lemonade, a touch that reminds me of her every time I taste the sweet yet sour quench of the beverage. We count down the days until JT turns 21, but until then, he celebrates with an ice-cold water. I sit, taking in all of the little details of our family tradition that are so unique to us. Drinks flow in unison with laughter as the hours pass. I truly look forward to the small moments surrounded by the people I love most.
So, to most, The Rooster is a dive where they grab a drink and something to eat. Without “The Roo,” our family’s Friday nights would lack the unison of connection, laughs, and love this place brings to us.
