#fourthstreet

He has that smile. Ya know, the kind of smile that makes you smile. And then, after him and then you, everyone else in the room ends up smiling.That kind of smile. Ya know, a lights-up-a-room kind of smile.So sure, yeah, you’ll be able to find him in a room thanks to his ear-to-ear calling card, but the grin won’t be the reason why you most definitely will remember Rick Veon. Oh no, there exist so many more.Like his love for his hometown and the happiness he has now that he’s married to his high school sweetheart, Heather. Or the tales Veon tells about his “back in the day” first life in Wheeling, and the acquaintances he made then who have turned out to be life-long friends since his return in 2020.And with him, the Linsly alum (Class of 1987) brought home an expanse of food service experience from extra-large American markets and now he’s owned and operated the very popular Belmont Brewerks in Martins Ferry for the past year.So, holy-moly-absolutely you will discuss with him “The Sandwich.” Not “sandwiches in general,” mind you. Seriously, please do not make that mistake. Trust in this: “THE. SANDWICH.”Now, it might not be immediately mentioned during someone’s first conversation with Rick, but it’ll happen over something as silly as mustard and the fact the condiment must – most-definitely-without-discussion – be on the bottom piece of bread (something about, “the delivery of the multiple flavors included” … blah, blah, blah).Again, attempt no debate.But goodness, by no means, by golly, will any of that represent why you’ll remember Mr. Rick Veon either.You will remember Rick Veon simply because he’s a real good dude.Rick's eatery is located on Fourth Street in Martins Ferry and features indoor and outdoor seating during the warm months of the year.Have you ever made the perfect sandwich? The answer is simple ... Hell NO! If you were to actually make the perfect sandwich why would you keep trying? For me, to make something to perfection means there is no better sandwich to be made, ergo my sandwich career would be over. However, I have made some truly awesome sandwiches, and some are retired, and some are still on my menu today. The California Club, for example … roasted turkey breast, bacon, Swiss, guacamole, tomato, organic field greens, mayo, toasted croissant.It’s currently retired, but who knows? How did the Upper Ohio Valley change the most while you were living in Arizona and Illinois? To tell the absolute truth, it really did not change that much. Sure, friends and family got older, but other than that the downtown still looks the same except we don't use it anymore (what a waste). Oglebay still looks relatively the same to me, Dicarlo’s in the Grove is now Patsy's, the Suspension Bridge is always closed, the Alpha, oh well, we all know that story, but other that, time pretty much stood still. Rick and his father, Raymond, were very close up until he passed away in October 2020.What did a mentor of yours teach you that you still remember today?That's a simple one seeing that my one true mentor was my dad, and he said, "Richard, don't take shit from nobody!" I have stood by that logic my whole life and I still believe and practice that every day. Where is your favorite overlook of the Wheeling area, and how often do you visit?The Mount Wood Cemetery in North Park. What a great view and the graves are extremely old yet in good shape. The view down the river is still the best view in the valley for me. I used to go there in high school to be by myself and 35 years later I still find myself up there just to be alone to think and find inspiration.Rick Veon was raised in Wheeling and went west for college in the late 1980s. He returned in 2020, and now owns and operates Belmont Brewerks in Martins Ferry.Is Dagwood your favorite comic strip character? Why or why not?I never was a big comic strip reader, so it is safe to say I don't know much about any of the characters. Sure, I know Peanuts, Marmaduke, and a couple of others, but I would be lying if I said I had a favorite and why. However, to put a little twist into this question, I was always a big Hong Kong Phooey fan. Don't even have a solid "why" he is my favorite. I just remember loving the cartoon.

He has that smile. Ya know, the kind of smile that makes you smile. And then, after him and then you, everyone else in the room ends up smiling.That kind of smile. Ya know, a lights-up-a-room kind of smile.So sure, yeah, you’ll be able to find him in a room thanks to his ear-to-ear calling card, but the grin won’t be the reason why you most definitely will remember Rick Veon. Oh no, there exist so many more.Like his love for his hometown and the happiness he has now that he’s married to his high school sweetheart. Or the tales Veon tells about his “back in the day” first life in Wheeling, and the acquaintances he made then who have turned out to be life-long friends since his return in 2020.And with him, the Linsly alum (Class of 1987) brought home an expanse of food service experience from extra-large American markets and now he’s owned and operated the very popular Belmont Brewerks in Martins Ferry for the past year.So, holy-moly-absolutely you will discuss with him “The Sandwich.” Not “sandwiches in general,” mind you. Seriously, please do not make that mistake. Trust in this: “THE. SANDWICH.”Now, it might not be immediately mentioned during someone’s first conversation with Rick, but it’ll happen over something as silly as mustard and the fact the condiment must – most-definitely-without-discussion – be on the bottom piece of bread (something about, “the delivery of the multiple flavors included” … blah, blah, blah).Again, attempt no debate.But goodness, by no means, by golly, will any of that represent why you’ll remember Mr. Rick Veon either.You will remember Rick Veon simply because he’s a real good dude.Rick's eatery is located on Fourth Street in Martins Ferry and features indoor and outdoor seating during the warm months of the year.Have you ever made the perfect sandwich? The answer is simple ... Hell NO! If you were to actually make the perfect sandwich why would you keep trying? For me, to make something to perfection means there is no better sandwich to be made, ergo my sandwich career would be over. However, I have made some truly awesome sandwiches, and some are retired, and some are still on my menu today. The California Club, for example … roasted turkey breast, bacon, Swiss, guacamole, tomato, organic field greens, mayo, toasted croissant.It’s currently retired, but who knows? How did the Upper Ohio Valley change the most while you were living in Arizona and Illinois? To tell the absolute truth, it really did not change that much. Sure, friends and family got older, but other than that the downtown still looks the same except we don't use it anymore (what a waste). Oglebay still looks relatively the same to me, Dicarlo’s in the Grove is now Patsy's, the Suspension Bridge is always closed, the Alpha, oh well, we all know that story, but other that, time pretty much stood still. Rick and his father, Raymond, were very close up until he passed away in October 2020.What did a mentor of yours teach you that you still remember today?That's a simple one seeing that my one true mentor was my dad, and he said, "Richard, don't take shit from nobody!" I have stood by that logic my whole life and I still believe and practice that every day. Where is your favorite overlook of the Wheeling area, and how often do you visit?The Mount Wood Cemetery in North Park. What a great view and the graves are extremely old yet in good shape. The view down the river is still the best view in the valley for me. I used to go there in high school to be by myself and 35 years later I still find myself up there just to be alone to think and find inspiration.Rick Veon was raised in Wheeling and went west for college in the late 1980s. He returned in 2020, and now owns and operates Belmont Brewerks in Martins Ferry.Is Dagwood your favorite comic strip character? Why or why not?I never was a big comic strip reader, so it is safe to say I don't know much about any of the characters. Sure, I know Peanuts, Marmaduke, and a couple of others, but I would be lying if I said I had a favorite and why. However, to put a little twist into this question, I was always a big Hong Kong Phooey fan. Don't even have a solid "why" he is my favorite. I just remember loving the cartoon.

He has that smile. Ya know, the kind of smile that makes you smile. And then, after him and then you, everyone else in the room ends up smiling.That kind of smile. Ya know, a lights-up-a-room kind of smile.So sure, yeah, you’ll be able to find him in a room thanks to his ear-to-ear calling card, but the grin won’t be the reason why you most definitely will remember Rick Veon. Oh no, there exist so many more.Like his love for his hometown and the happiness he has now that he’s married to his high school sweetheart. Or the tales Veon tells about his “back in the day” first life in Wheeling, and the acquaintances he made then who have turned out to be life-long friends since his return in 2020.And with him, the Linsly alum (Class of 1987) brought home an expanse of food service experience from extra-large American markets and now he’s owned and operated the very popular Belmont Brewerks in Martins Ferry for the past year.So, holy-moly-absolutely you will discuss with him “The Sandwich.” Not “sandwiches in general,” mind you. Seriously, please do not make that mistake. Trust in this: “THE. SANDWICH.”Now, it might not be immediately mentioned during someone’s first conversation with Rick, but it’ll happen over something as silly as mustard and the fact the condiment must – most-definitely-without-discussion – be on the bottom piece of bread (something about, “the delivery of the multiple flavors included” … blah, blah, blah).Again, attempt no debate.But goodness, by no means, by golly, will any of that represent why you’ll remember Mr. Rick Veon either.You will remember Rick Veon simply because he’s a real good dude.Rick's eatery is located on Fourth Street in Martins Ferry and features indoor and outdoor seating during the warm months of the year.Have you ever made the perfect sandwich? The answer is simple ... Hell NO! If you were to actually make the perfect sandwich why would you keep trying? For me, to make something to perfection means there is no better sandwich to be made, ergo my sandwich career would be over. However, I have made some truly awesome sandwiches, and some are retired, and some are still on my menu today. The California Club, for example … roasted turkey breast, bacon, Swiss, guacamole, tomato, organic field greens, mayo, toasted croissant.It’s currently retired, but who knows? How did the Upper Ohio Valley change the most while you were living in Arizona and Illinois? To tell the absolute truth, it really did not change that much. Sure, friends and family got older, but other than that the downtown still looks the same except we don't use it anymore (what a waste). Oglebay still looks relatively the same to me, Dicarlo’s in the Grove is now Patsy's, the Suspension Bridge is always closed, the Alpha, oh well, we all know that story, but other that, time pretty much stood still. Rick and his father, Raymond, were very close up until he passed away in October 2020.What did a mentor of yours teach you that you still remember today?That's a simple one seeing that my one true mentor was my dad, and he said, "Richard, don't take shit from nobody!" I have stood by that logic my whole life and I still believe and practice that every day. Where is your favorite overlook of the Wheeling area, and how often do you visit?The Mount Wood Cemetery in North Park. What a great view and the graves are extremely old yet in good shape. The view down the river is still the best view in the valley for me. I used to go there in high school to be by myself and 35 years later I still find myself up there just to be alone to think and find inspiration.Very soon after he returned to his hometown in 2020, he reconnected with his high school sweetheart - Heather - and married her in May 2022.Is Dagwood your favorite comic strip character? Why or why not?I never was a big comic strip reader, so it is safe to say I don't know much about any of the characters. Sure, I know Peanuts, Marmaduke, and a couple of others, but I would be lying if I said I had a favorite and why. However, to put a little twist into this question, I was always a big Hong Kong Phooey fan. Don't even have a solid "why" he is my favorite. I just remember loving the cartoon.

He has that smile. Ya know, the kind of smile that makes you smile. And then, after him and then you, everyone else in the room ends up smiling.That kind of smile. Ya know, a lights-up-a-room kind of smile.So sure, yeah, you’ll be able to find him in a room thanks to his ear-to-ear calling card, but the grin won’t be the reason why you most definitely will remember Rick Veon. Oh no, there exist so many more.Like his love for his hometown and the happiness he has now that he’s married to his high school sweetheart. Or the tales Veon tells about his “back in the day” first life in Wheeling, and the acquaintances he made then who have turned out to be life-long friends since his return in 2020.And with him, the Linsly alum (Class of 1987) brought home an expanse of food service experience from extra-large American markets and now he’s owned and operated the very popular Belmont Brewerks in Martins Ferry for the past year.So, holy-moly-absolutely you will discuss with him “The Sandwich.” Not “sandwiches in general,” mind you. Seriously, please do not make that mistake. Trust in this: “THE. SANDWICH.”Now, it might not be immediately mentioned during someone’s first conversation with Rick, but it’ll happen over something as silly as mustard and the fact the condiment must – most-definitely-without-discussion – be on the bottom piece of bread (something about, “the delivery of the multiple flavors included” … blah, blah, blah).Again, attempt no debate.But goodness, by no means, by golly, will any of that represent why you’ll remember Mr. Rick Veon either.You will remember Rick Veon simply because he’s a real good dude.Rick's eatery is located on Fourth Street in Martins Ferry and features indoor and outdoor seating during the warm months of the year.Have you ever made the perfect sandwich? The answer is simple ... Hell NO! If you were to actually make the perfect sandwich why would you keep trying? For me, to make something to perfection means there is no better sandwich to be made, ergo my sandwich career would be over. However, I have made some truly awesome sandwiches, and some are retired, and some are still on my menu today. The California Club, for example … roasted turkey breast, bacon, Swiss, guacamole, tomato, organic field greens, mayo, toasted croissant.It’s currently retired, but who knows? How did the Upper Ohio Valley change the most while you were living in Arizona and Illinois? To tell the absolute truth, it really did not change that much. Sure, friends and family got older, but other than that the downtown still looks the same except we don't use it anymore (what a waste). Oglebay still looks relatively the same to me, Dicarlo’s in the Grove is now Patsy's, the Suspension Bridge is always closed, the Alpha, oh well, we all know that story, but other that, time pretty much stood still. Rick and his father, Raymond, were very close up until he passed away in October 2020.What did a mentor of yours teach you that you still remember today?That's a simple one seeing that my one true mentor was my dad, and he said, "Richard, don't take shit from nobody!" I have stood by that logic my whole life and I still believe and practice that every day. Where is your favorite overlook of the Wheeling area, and how often do you visit?The Mount Wood Cemetery in North Park. What a great view and the graves are extremely old yet in good shape. The view down the river is still the best view in the valley for me. I used to go there in high school to be by myself and 35 years later I still find myself up there just to be alone to think and find inspiration.Very soon after he returned to his hometown in 2020, he reconnected with his high school sweetheart - Heather - and married her in May 2022.Is Dagwood your favorite comic strip character? Why or why not?I never was a big comic strip reader, so it is safe to say I don't know much about any of the characters. Sure, I know Peanuts, Marmaduke, and a couple of others, but I would be lying if I said I had a favorite and why. However, to put a little twist into this question, I was always a big Hong Kong Phooey fan. Don't even have a solid "why" he is my favorite. I just remember loving the cartoon.

He has that smile. Ya know, the kind of smile that makes you smile. And then, after him and then you, everyone else in the room ends up smiling.That kind of smile. Ya know, a lights-up-a-room kind of smile.So sure, yeah, you’ll be able to find him in a room thanks to his ear-to-ear calling card, but the grin won’t be the reason why you most definitely will remember Rick Veon. Oh no, there exist so many more.Like his love for his hometown and the happiness he has now that he’s married to his high school sweetheart. Or the tales Veon tells about his “back in the day” first life in Wheeling, and the acquaintances he made then who have turned out to be life-long friends since his return in 2020.And with him, the Linsly alum (Class of 1987) brought home an expanse of food service experience from extra-large American markets and now he’s owned and operated the very popular Belmont Brewerks in Martins Ferry for the past year.So, holy-moly-absolutely you will discuss with him “The Sandwich.” Not “sandwiches in general,” mind you. Seriously, please do not make that mistake. Trust in this: “THE. SANDWICH.”Now, it might not be immediately mentioned during someone’s first conversation with Rick, but it’ll happen over something as silly as mustard and the fact the condiment must – most-definitely-without-discussion – be on the bottom piece of bread (something about, “the delivery of the multiple flavors included” … blah, blah, blah).Again, attempt no debate.But goodness, by no means, by golly, will any of that represent why you’ll remember Mr. Rick Veon either.You will remember Rick Veon simply because he’s a real good dude.Rick's eatery is located on Fourth Street in Martins Ferry and features indoor and outdoor seating during the warm months of the year.Have you ever made the perfect sandwich? The answer is simple ... Hell NO! If you were to actually make the perfect sandwich why would you keep trying? For me, to make something to perfection means there is no better sandwich to be made, ergo my sandwich career would be over. However, I have made some truly awesome sandwiches, and some are retired, and some are still on my menu today. The California Club, for example … roasted turkey breast, bacon, Swiss, guacamole, tomato, organic field greens, mayo, toasted croissant.It’s currently retired, but who knows? How did the Upper Ohio Valley change the most while you were living in Arizona and Illinois? To tell the absolute truth, it really did not change that much. Sure, friends and family got older, but other than that the downtown still looks the same except we don't use it anymore (what a waste). Oglebay still looks relatively the same to me, Dicarlo’s in the Grove is now Patsy's, the Suspension Bridge is always closed, the Alpha, oh well, we all know that story, but other that, time pretty much stood still. Rick and his father, Raymond, were very close up until he passed away in October 2020.What did a mentor of yours teach you that you still remember today?That's a simple one seeing that my one true mentor was my dad, and he said, "Richard, don't take shit from nobody!" I have stood by that logic my whole life and I still believe and practice that every day. Where is your favorite overlook of the Wheeling area, and how often do you visit?The Mount Wood Cemetery in North Park. What a great view and the graves are extremely old yet in good shape. The view down the river is still the best view in the valley for me. I used to go there in high school to be by myself and 35 years later I still find myself up there just to be alone to think and find inspiration.Very soon after he returned to his hometown in 2020, he reconnected with his high school sweetheart - Heather - and married her in May 2022.Is Dagwood your favorite comic strip character? Why or why not?I never was a big comic strip reader, so it is safe to say I don't know much about any of the characters. Sure, I know Peanuts, Marmaduke, and a couple of others, but I would be lying if I said I had a favorite and why. However, to put a little twist into this question, I was always a big Hong Kong Phooey fan. Don't even have a solid "why" he is my favorite. I just remember loving the cartoon.

Get this guy into a conversation about his eatery's new menu and he starts saying things like, “You have to care for the bread.”So, don’t smush it, right?“Oh, there’s soooo much more to it than that,” insists Belmont Brewerks owner Rick Veon. “You have to love the bread.”Love the bread?“Yes, love the bread.”So, don’t squeeze it?”“Not until it’s the vessel.”The vessel?“That delivers.”Delivers?“Yes, delivers.”We’re still talking about sandwiches, right?“We are.”Sandwiches that deliver?“They’d better.”The Twist Cuban at Belmont Brewerks is constructed a very specific way by the kitchen staff.Five KindsThree-hundred-ninety-six divided by five equals almost 80 and dividing 80 by nine comes out to about nine sandwiches served at the Martins Ferry restaurant per hour that Brewerks was open during the first week the five new sandwiches were on a special menu.Those numbers exceeded what Veon had projected when he and his kitchen crew developed the new eatery options. Veon, a Wheeling native graduated by The Linsly School in 1986, compiled more than 30 years’ experience in the food service industry before returning home to the Upper Ohio Valley in 2020. “I’ll be honest, I did forget about the meat-and-potato mentality here in the valley. It was true when I was a kid and it’s still true today,” Veon explained. “Since high school, I’ve lived in a lot of different places so I was introduced to a little of everything along the way. It’s really amazing how people have their favorite foods in different places in the country and how you get used to them after you move into the area.“But when I came home and started going out to eat once everything opened up again, I was very quickly reminded about the meat and the potatoes here in the Wheeling area,” he said. “It’s not that I thought it would be different these days, it’s just that I had forgotten what my favorites were when I was in high school. That was a few years ago.”These days, though, he and his wife Heather operate Brewerks on Fourth Street in Martins Ferry and since the purchase in June, Veon has tweaked the restaurant’s menu. It was mind-July, in fact, when he decided to introduce five new sandwiches.“The new sandwiches on the menu are blowing away everything else we have on the menu. The Club is the most popular, but then the Cuban, the Brewben, the Pot Roast, and the Killer Grilled Cheese follow, and they’ve all done better than we expected,” Veon reported. “The first week we had those on the menu, we sold almost 400 sandwiches. Our kitchen crew did a fantastic job.“Our soups go very well with all of our sandwiches, and those soups will change pretty often now that we’re getting close to the cooler months,” he explained. “I know one of my favorite lunches is our Killer Grilled Cheese and our soup of the day, and I’m sure it’ll be a popular combination when we get into October, November, and December.”A large portion of the courtyard at Brewerks will be covered during the colder months.Top to BottomStep One: Take care of the bread.Step Two: Acknowledge the strongest ingredient/flavor.Step Three: Use quality meats, cheese, vegetables.“It’s all about the build and the consistency on everything on it. Of course, it starts with the bread and whether or not you are toasting it or grilling it,” Veon explained. “On my sandwiches the mayo is always on top and the mustard is always on the bottom. The mustard is the most powerful flavor on the sandwich so it has to be last in the flavor profile.“Now, some of this might sound ridiculous to some people, but the way you place the lettuce, the tomato, the onion … it all matters,” he insisted. “But it’s about how you want that sandwich to taste all of the way through. Put it this way. If it was a T-B-L, you would get a completely different flavor than a B-L-T.”Think about that.If, instead of a Bacon-lettuce-tomato sandwich, it was a tomato-bacon-lettuce, it would taste differently?“Most definitely.”But why?“It’s all about your palate and the order it receives the flavors.”It is?“It is.”Interesting.“Hey, I don‘t make the rules.”That’s when Veon returned to the topic of bread. “That’s because the kind of bread you use for any sandwich is super important. It is the vessel of the sandwich,” the entrepreneur said. “The bread, in many respects, is the end-all, be-all. No matter what, you have to take care of those two pieces of bread because it’s going to be the vessel that takes care of the rest of the sandwich. That’s a known fact.“The majority of the breads we use at Brewerks come out of several places in Pittsburgh. It just depends on what kind of bread it is,” Veon added. “We have all of the basic breads for the sandwiches, but we have others for other menu items, too.”Because bread is THAT important?“Again, I don’t make the rules,” Veon said with a smile. “I follow them, though, and that makes people very, very happy.”