Michael Vick themed restaurant coming to Lynchburg
Lynchburg News & Advance
Published: October 22, 2009
The poster-sized photograph was taken recently in the backyard of Michael Vick’s Hampton home.
Vick and two of his friends, Lynchburg residents Andre Kendrick and Marcus Revely, smile as they stand side-by-side in front of a lake.
It’s the only Vick keepsake on the walls of the new Lynchburg restaurant co-owned by Kendrick, Vick’s former Virginia Tech teammate, and Revely.
The sports-themed restaurant, named “7” after Vick’s jersey number, is located on Tradewynd Drive in Wyndhurst and is set to open on Friday.
Vick, a former Pro Bowl quarterback and current Philadelphia Eagles reserve who recently served 18 months in prison for running a dogfighting ring, has no financial stake in the establishment, but Kendrick said Vick will provide support by making an appearance in the Hill City sometime in November.
The details of Vick’s visit haven’t been ironed out, but he’s expected to spend some time speaking to Hill City Youth football players and will make an appearance at the restaurant, Kendrick said.
“This is not his establishment,” said Kendrick, who starred at E.C. Glass and played two of his four seasons at Tech with Vick. “All I want to do is bring this guy in for a good cause and talk to the kids.”
The restaurant includes a bar, big-screen televisions for sports viewing and a collection of sports memorabilia, including Kendrick’s game-worn Hokies jersey from the 2000 Sugar Bowl national championship game and a Braylon Edwards-signed Cleve-land Browns jersey.
Kendrick, who is on the board of directors of the Hill City Youth Football and Cheerleading Asso-ciation and has two sons who play youth football, said one of the side missions of the restaurant is to help give back to the community.
When things get rolling, Kendrick and Revely hope to sponsor Hill City Youth football teams and help finance clinics and summer camps for the kids.
Vick wants to contribute to that cause as well, Kendrick said, but instead of a financial contri-bution, he’d like to lend his name and time.
“Who better to talk to the kids than Mike? If it’s me, I want to talk to somebody who’s lost it all and is on the road to getting it back than somebody that already did it or is still doing it and hasn’t seen any tribulations,” Kendrick said.
Vick, who has had limited playing time for the Eagles since he was reinstated after a two-year NFL suspension, has an arrangement with the president of the Humane Society of the United States to make two public appearances a month to speak out against dogfighting.
Revely said Vick’s upcoming Lynchburg appearance is not part of that arrangement.
Attempts to speak to Vick for this story were unsuccessful.
“This will be a good chance for him to come down and talk to the kids and do some good things,” Revely said. “The best thing about it is it’s not some-thing the (NFL) asked him to do.“
Advertisement
Reader Reactions
If “Vick” is in it….I’m NOT!!!!
I am so glad MOST people feel like I do. I was beginning to wonder. Jake G. Thank you for your input on the facts. Animal cruelty is just terrible. The people that back Vick are most likely die-hard TECH fans that just can’t see past TECH. He is a despicable person and I can’t imagine any good coming from such a deep rooted evil. He needs to go back to Hampton and live the life of the hood which is what he seems to mimic.
mskat, sure most people in their lives have done things that they are not proud of and that they regret…but the VAST MAJORITY of people in the world do not do such pathetic, cruel, and sadistic things that this “man” did. Remember, when the dogs didn’t fight the way he wanted them, he and his friends slammed them to the ground until they were dead, they drowned them, beat them, shot them, etc. And, lets not forget about him funding fights, and betting on them across state lines, etc..so not only did he do this at his home, but his money went to fund other fights where others were doing the same things to animals.
Just because he pulled a little bit of time (non celebrities would have got MUCH more time than he did) does not mean that he has made up for what he did wrong! The only reason he is doing the talks that he does is because he HAS to as a condition of his release…not because he WANTS to. As was said before, he is not sorry for what he did, he is sorry that he got caught and had to abandon the lifestyle that he had.
Vick is not a great player by ANY stretch of the imagination, and now, he never will be. He is a poor sportsman (remember him stomping the ankle of an opponet in a game, and then telling a lie about it? and remember him cussing fans of the opposing team?)
and a poor excuse for a human!
I am thinking about the kids of the community, and I am positive that there are much better role models out there for them to look up to. I predict that this restaurant will fail within the first year or two. You can not have someone like this attached to a business and think that it wil thrive!
MsKat, making a mistake or using bad judgement is one thing but to knowingly inflict pain, tearing apart of flesh until a living being dies, does not constitute a “mistake”. Only evil and personality disorders could do something like that. Be bored and fight dogs?!? Are you kidding me? When normal people get bored, we talk on the phone, eat too much, watch t.v., etc. We don’t start a business fighting and killing animals!! Take him. He’s YOURS.
This is ridiculous! They should not honor this fruit loop, are they going to serve “Beagle Stew” Or Pit Bull BBQ? I am sorry, but I will NOT eat there, I can’t believe that this is even a possiblity. I know Vick served his time, as far as remorse, I believe he is only sorry he got caught. Whats next? The Ted Bundy cafe, or the unibomber burger joint? Just because all he killed were dogs, he is still a murderer & that is how most serial killers start….by murdering animals, their pets AND OTHER PEOPLE’S. Beware if bodies start missing…....
Wow!!! SO i guess none of yall have ever done anything you regret or was later sorry about? I don’t agree with what he did with the dogs, but he did serve time and he is trying to right his wrong. None of us have a time machine where we can go back and change anything. All we can do is learn from out past. These little kids would love to see him, im sure he will inspire them. “He without sin can cast the first stone” , so which one of yall qualify?
Its fine if you dont like the Eagles anymore or wanna watch his games, GREAT nobody is forcing you to. This seems like a good program for kids so this way they arent on the street getting in trouble or being bored and having dogs fight. DId any of yall read where it says it will help sponsor teams and help finance summer clinics?? Think about the kids and the community. You don’t ever have to go to that restaurant if you are so against it.
I cannot believe that Mr. Kendrick and Mr. Revely even want to be associated with Michael Vick. Mr. Kendrick is quoted as saying “who better to talk to the kids?“ Are you kidding??? Michael Vick is the LAST person who should be talking with young football players about sportsmanship and the game itself. I am amazed that Mr. Kendrick, being on the board of directors for the Hill City Youth football program, wants to be involved with such a self-centered, greedy and egotistical person. When Michael Vick apologized, the only thing he felt sorry about was that he got caught. Anyone who can treat animals that way should not be allowed to try to influence children about ANYTHING! I am so disgusted with professional football (that he is being allowed to play again) and I hope that the Eagles lose a lot of fans because of it. Michael Vick is a complete waste. He will always be a complete jerk in my opinion—-LOSER!!!
Ditto, ditto, ditto!! He hasn’t changed at all. He’s just looking for the big money again. Many many people would be better to “talk to the kids” than this joker. Let him go work at McDonald’s or something, not the NFL. I didn’t know about skipping out on tabs! I did know about mouthing off to fans. And to torture and kill innocent animals….oh He** No!! Let him rot….somewhere besides in my view.
OMG!!! Now I’m sure the world is coming to an end if Jajke and I are agreeing on topics….lol I tooo feel Mike vick had his shot at success he blew it and thus should be happy he’s out of prison and had his 10hr construction job…but he wants back into the lime light back into football I will never support the Eagles again or wacth any game they ever pplay in they have acted as an enabler to this dog killer welcoming him with open arms. As for these two fools they have picked the wrong time to open a club, bar business having anything to do with Michael Vick his hay day is over and they’re a day late and dollar short. I hope the whole Idea falls flat on it’s face. As for Vick He’s just l;ucky it wasn’t left up to me to decide his treatment or I’d be hooking him up to jumper cable and he’d see how it feels. He a loud mouth show off and he’s a pig in my opinion.
Pathetic!
This guy is a complete loser, who had the perfect future handed to him, but because he wanted to live in the “Gangsta Culture” instead of being a productive member of society he flushed it all away! Now we are supposed to believe that he is a good person for kids to look up to? Seriously? It’s not just the dog fighting, there was so much more…remember him running his mouth to fans? When he was playing ball at VA Tech, he was infamous for doing the “dine and dash” because he was Mike Vick, and shouldnt have to pay for anything (in his mind)! Just go to the local diners and bars and ask the managers who were there when Vick played. He used his fame and fortune to show that he was a “thug” and have the “Gangsta” lifestyle…..when he got caught he paid the price, and now we are supposed to think that because he went to prison that he is a better person????? PROVE IT TO US…SHOW US how he is a better person, not just a friends opinion, but show us what he has done to make a change for the better….and not just what the courts are making him do!
If I were a parent, I would keep my kids far away from this restaurant….bad behavior shouldn’t be rewarded, and kids should see that.
Post a Comment(Requires free registration)
- Please avoid offensive, vulgar, or hateful language.
- Respect others.
- Use the "Flag Comment" link when necessary.
- See the Terms and Conditions for details.
Advertisement