NEWBERRY — Over the 60 years Dopey’s Cafe has been open, many Newberry College alumni have visited the restaurant. Many shared memories of good food, good times and memories of the Edwards family. Here are some of those comments:
“I was at Newberry College 1970-1974. Back then very few people knew about Dopeys because he did not open up until about 8 p.m. and closed at 1 a.m. Only hamburger place that extended credit, students would run a tab and make payments on it. Sometimes if anyone graduated they would know he would be at Homecoming at the gate with names on a long sheet of paper with how much they owed. Dopey was a strong Democrat, and he kept up with politics, he and Lee Atwater would get into heated debates, he was a staunch democrat, never considered anything else. He was like that until the day he died.”
– John Paul Whitaker — Class of 1974
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“A Dopey burger…what a treat! Great food, unique atmosphere and friendly people … a super combination!”
– Christie Whitaker — Class of 1984
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“I have many memories as a young child, a student and as an adult citizen still living in Newberry. My fondest memories, in addition to the food of course, are the conversations with Dopey himself. There were a few of us who would knock on his door from time to time and he would even cook us a burger in the morning after class even though he didn’t open until late afternoon or early evening.”
Jimmie Coggins — Class of 1974
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“Dopey’s holds a special place in the heart of old Newberry alums like myself, who lived in the day where Dopey’s was the only option in town, for a good late night bite! As a student at Newberry College Dopey’s was a staple, and I for one will be sad to see this Greasy Burger Institution go, as where will students gravitate to when they are up late studying (aka partying) and they need a good milkshake and a burger, within walking distance, to get them through that last chapter (aka the after party). Only kidding about the partying as I know Reading Day is near and so are exams….good luck to all the students with their exams!”
Matt DeWitt — Class of 2002
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“While I was student teaching and tutoring, it was a stressful semester and I ended up losing a lot of weight. However, a parent was grateful for the services that I was able to provide and would reward me with a milkshake about every three Fridays.”
Adrienne Long – Class of 2013
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“I entered into Newberry in 2008 and graduated in 2013. Ms. Rose would always sit and talk with me when I would come in and her pleasant spirit was always so contagious. I really didn’t have to tell her what I wanted she remembered me from coming in so much. The burgers were very delicious and the place was ran by such good people.”
Brandon Waller – Class of 2013
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“Freshman year – waiting like an hour in line to be one of the first 100 students so I could get a free burger and fries! It was so much fun just to be there to socialize. A group of friends and I went. Totally worth the wait too!”
Kristen Smith – Class of 2013
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“It was the 70’s, so a little foggy (!) Late night best hamburger ever, me and Carla Weldon Marshall and a crowd squeezed into that tiny room, most often. Dopey’s was an institution we loved!”
Meg Darby Muir – Class of 1978
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“Going there every night, got the same thing every night, I would get a coke, chip and a cheeseburger, and it would always be a different price.”
Richard Carter – Class of 1984
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“My best memory of Dopeys, this was my freshman year, I played football at Newberry. We just broke camp from football, my roommate was an upper classmen, he says I’m going to take you for your first time ever to Dopeys. I was like what is Dopeys? We lived in Cromer, across the street. We went in there and he bought my first Dopeys dinner.”
“The best story about Dopey himself, this is a true story. A friend of mine graduated, he owed him a lot of money. This guy is now an owner of Chick-fil-A restaurants in South Carolina. He had not been back to Newberry in probably 15 years. We had a reunion, a football reunion, I did a cook out for everybody, he came to my house, we did the cook out before we went over to the college for the game. He came to town, and he asked if Dopey’s is still open? I said of course it is. He goes, and he walked in the door, Dopey said ‘I remember you.’ He said ‘as a matter of fact I still have your class ring.’ Because what he did, when he graduated, he gave Dopey his class ring and said ‘hold it, I”ll be back one day to pay my tab off.’ Dopey went to his house, got his class ring, Mark paid him the money he owed him and he got his class ring back.”
Will Blackmon – Class of 1992
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“When I went to Newberry College, Dopey’s was ‘off limits’ to women … but we had our ways.”
Debbie Turner