Rodie's Soda Shop (Kemper Road, Danville, Virginia)

Courtesy Frances Huff Barr

Rodie's/Rhodie's Soda Shop was a small family-owned restaurant on Kemper Road in Danville, Virginia, near the intersection with Luna Lake Road. Many hungry swimmers stopped there after spending the day at Luna Lake. Rodie's was famous for its ten-cent hot dogs, delicious hamburgers, and other fare.

Rodie's was established by Samuel Krug (Rodie) Rodenhizer.

Name: Samuel Krug (Rodie) Rodenhizer
Birth: 4 Nov 1905, Pittsylvania County, Virginia
Death: 18 Jan 1991 (age 85), Danville City, Virginia
Burial: Highland Burial Park, Danville, Virginia

Rodie's apparently opened in the 1940s and was operated by Rodie Rodenhizer and his wife Peggy until around 1959 when they sold or leased the business to Bill Toler, who ran the business for twenty-five years.

Lettie Evans Rodenhizer, called "Peggy" by her friends and family, was born May 12, 1908, on a farm in Pittsylvania County, the eighth of 11 children of Isaac and Virginia Evans. She was a teenager when the family moved to Danville, where she spent most of her life. She married Samuel K. Rodenhizer (Rodie) in 1927 and they celebrated more than 63 years together before his death in January 1991. Many will remember her as Mrs. Rodie during the years that the two of them operated Rodie's Soda Shop on Kemper Road.

Peggy and Rodie 1920s

At the time of the 1940 United States Federal Census (April 16, 1940), Rodie, wife Peggy, and their two young children, Gareth and Rachel, were living with Rodie's mother, Rosa Tanksley Rodenhizer on Jordan Street in Danville, Virginia. Rodie's occupation was "Doorman" in "Moving Picture" industry.
_______________

Despite heavy opposition, Council approved a request from Mr. and Mrs. Langdon Gunter to rezone property on Berryman Ave. -- former home of Rhodies Soda Shop -- from R-3 residential to L-C Commercial, as recommended by the City Planning Commission. The re-zoning was opposed by 60 per cent of the affected property owners.

The Danville Register (Danville, Virginia), 12 January 1972, Wednesday, Page 9.
_______________

The Bee (Danville, Virginia), 31 Aug 1957

"Break-In Total For Night Tops Dozen Mark"

More than a dozen overnight break-ins, nine of them in different offices in the Medical Arts Building on S. Main St., were under investigation by police today, with one apprehension reported. That subject, a 16-year-old juvenile, was arrested on Watson St., where a break-in was discovered at 12:25 a.m. today.

Less than three hours later a break-in was reported at Rhodie's Soda Shop on Kemper Road. There, entry was gained through a side window, change was taken from two machines, and the back door was left standing open.

The Bee (Danville, Virginia), 28 June 1972, Wednesday, Page 1.

For some twenty-five years was owned by the Tolers.
_______________

The Bee (Danville, Virginia), 22 November 1961

Danville - William Lewis (Bill) Toler, 91, of 224 Courtland Street, died Sunday, June 22, 2008, at Danville Regional Medical Center. Born June 25, 1916, in Caswell County, North Carolina, he was the son of the late Walter Toler and Myrtle Lewis Toler. He was married to Margaret Ferguson Toler who predeceased him.

After twenty-five years in the US Army where he served during World War II and the Korean War, he returned to Danville and operated Rodies Soda Shop on Kemper Road for twenty-five years, retiring in 1984. He was a member of First Christian Church and West End Christian Church, also the Danville Grays, American Legion Dan River Post #1097 and VFW Post #993.

He is survived by a son, William Lee Toler and wife Laura of Danville; a daughter, Sandra Breit McRae of Fredericksburg; a brother, Sonny Toler of Gastonia, North Carolina; two sisters, Margaret Warren of New Bern, North Carolina and Ruby Cannon of Detroit, Michigan; four grandchildren, Bruce Toler, Charleston, South Carolina, Ben Toler, Danville, Steve Elkins, Waynesboro and Mark Elkins, Fredericksburg; six great-grandchildren, Sam, Will, Max and Alice Elkins of Waynesboro, Luke and Evan Elkins of Fredericksburg; also surviving are several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be conducted Thursday, June 26, 2008, 11:00 a.m., at Swicegood Funeral Home chapel. The family will receive friends Wednesday, 7:00 until 8:30 p.m. at Swicegood Funeral Home and at other times will be at the home of his son, 228 Mt. Vernon Avenue. Interment will be in Danville Memorial Gardens with graveside military honors by American Legion Dan River Post 1097 Honor Guard.

Swicegood Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Published in the Danville Register and Bee and partners from 6/25/2008 - 6/26/2008.
_______________

I lived just around the corner on Hugh's street for a little while when I was in elementary school. Mr Toler, the owner, and my Pop were in the army together during WW II. I started eating there again while I was in college at DCC. Used to love eating there. Source: Gene Turner 19 March 2018 Post to the Living in Danville & Pittsylvania County Facebook Page.

Once upon a time, there was a US mail box sitting to the right of the front door. Pete Simpson and a couple more flying up Edmonds st and didn't stop. The mailbox ended up on top of the front counter, sitting in the floor was an egg box with 30 dozen eggs, all smashed, no injuries, but ole Bill Toler was really P O ed. Source: Johnny Holt 19 March 2018 Post to the Living in Danville & Pittsylvania County Facebook Page.
_______________