“Highlands Community Bank is great for a small town like Covington and they’re the only ones that are putting money back into the community,” says Roe. “Banking with them is a win-win.”
Located right off I-64 exit 16 in Covington, The Rail Bar and Grille is the premier location in town for great food, entertainment, and craft beer selection. Lee Roe and his family have been customers of community banking for years, but in 2020, his confidence in the power of banking local was cemented.
“Highlands Community Bank is great for a small town like Covington and they’re the only ones that are putting money back into the community,” says Roe. “Banking with them is a win-win.”
The restaurant property has a history, dating back to the 1950s, of providing a great place for locals to eat, drink, and get together with family and friends. Since Roe purchased the property in May of 2017, the restaurant has undergone a renovation and expansion to provide more space for customers to enjoy their meals inside and on the back deck.
When restrictions limited business for The Rail, they didn’t want to have to turn away their five full-time employees from work. Roe applied for a Paycheck Protection Program loan with Highlands Community Bank and was able to keep the restaurant open and continued to serve food within CDC guidelines. While the restaurant has continued to overcome challenges, they have been able to continue to provide financial security for their employees.
The Paycheck Protection Program Loan wasn’t the only way Highlands Community Bank has helped the restauranteur this year. Prior to the pandemic, Roe committed to purchasing The Cat & The Owl from Bruce Proffitt. Proffitt wanted to make sure his life’s work would be respected and carried on, not torn down. Brandon Caldwell, of Highlands Community Bank, helped Roe with the purchase of the restaurant and provided a loan that funded the renovations he sought to make to refresh the look and feel of it while paying homage to its origin.
Overall, Lee Roe employs 15-25 part- and full-time employees in the area between both locations. After some delays, Roe re-opened The Cat & The Owl in October. He claims that without the widespread financial support he gets from Highlands Community Bank, his businesses may not have been able to withstand the challenges of 2020.