Chef Lee Rush, the newest addition to the staff of Mom’s Place Too in Grantsville, WV, has spent twenty five years working in the restaurant industry. It began in the 5 star Hotel and fine dining of Cafe Cimino, in Sutton, West Virginia where he was trained by owners, Tim and Melody Urbanic of Little White Oak in southern Calhoun county. That was until the year 2020 when Covid’s negative effect on the restaurant industry had him rethinking his career choice and wondering if life in the food industry would return to normal.
In 2021, K.J. Seghn, a native of India, purchased and reopened the Cafe Cimino, hiring Jill and Aaron Sligar to manage the Hotel and Restaurant. Once again Chef Lee was asked to return to the kitchen, but now the business was operating under the name “The Elk River Hotel and Cafe.”
When I asked Chef Lee how it would differ for him when cooking for the country cooking fans of Mom’s place, he said that he like’s it all! “Cooking is a way to get to know the people and the culture. I like to make good food and happy people,” he added.
Over time the menu of Mom’s place will likely expand with the possibility of Southern Italian Pasta and Mediterranean foods.
Chef Lee is familiar with Calhoun, having been raised in the County. His family moved away for his dad’s employment for some time, but returned, when Lee graduated Calhoun High School in 1995. He has recently moved his parents into his home in Arnoldsburg, and wanted the opportunity to work closer to where they were.
If you’re in Grantsville, stop by and check out Mom’s place too for some wonderful food and the atmosphere of hometown!
