LEE HI Travel Plaza, one of the oldest operating truck stops on the East Coast, will soon undergo a big change in their business. Berky’s Restaurant will close its doors after 36 years of operation.

When Bobby Berkstresser first took over LEE HI in 1981, he opened a 24-hour restaurant to offer a hot meal to truck drivers at any time of day. He called his restaurant Berky’s and it soon became a staple in Rockbridge County.

Unfortunately, for many of Berky’s regular customers, the management of LEE HI has decided to replace the truck stop diner with a well-known restaurant chain. The plaza will open an International House of Pancakes franchise in place of its long time business.

The decision to franchise was made by LEE HI general manager Corey Berkstresser, Bobby Berkstresser’s son. He regretted having to close Berky’s, but recognized the need for more business.

“People have been calling me Berky since the eighth grade,”said Berkstresser. “I like having a restaurant with my name on it as much as anybody, but that doesn’t always pay the bills. Especially in the winter months when travel and tourism is down.”   

Berkstresser explored a few preliminary franchise options, but quickly chose IHOP.

“We don’t serve alcohol and with a lot of the other franchise opportunities it is almost between fast-food and, say an Applebees. And with the truck stop we’ve always focused on serving breakfast 24-hours a day, and so we felt it was the best fit for us,” said Berkstresser.

Corey Berkstresser is optimistic about the transition into a franchise.

“I hope to pull more people off of the interstate with that brand recognition,”said Berkstresser. “When a family is traveling down the interstate and you see Berky’s on the blue interstate sign and you’re not from Rockbridge County, and haven’t been through here before, that means nothing to you. But if somebody sees a name like IHOP, boom, ‘Y’all hungry? Doesn’t matter, Daddy’s hungry, we’re going to IHOP.’”             

LEE HI expects construction to finished early this summer and would like for the transition to be as quick as possible.

“We would like to keep as much of the original restaurant as we can, and create a unique IHOP. We may do construction in phases, you know; we may knock out a few pieces of the dining room before we close the doors to start rebuilding. As for a tentative date, we plan to be up and running in early June,” said Berkstresser.

The change in business has been met with some resistance from the community. Many locals have been visiting Berky’s for their whole lives and do not want to see it gone.

“Initial shock. Some disappointment. It’s been positive and negative. I mean, being a long standing restaurant in the community, people have a lot of fond memories from coming to Berky’s. It’s unfortunate but I tell people nostalgia doesn’t pay the bills,” said Berkstresser.