Couple finds success with the only sit-down restaurant in Roseville

ROSEVILLE — It takes some planning to eat a Fatty Patty at Hometown Eatz-n-Sweetz. It is two thick hamburger patties, with three slices of Texas toast, so the first thing to figure out is how to fit it in your mouth. After that, the next issue is whether to eat the whole thing, or save room for desert. 

The Fatty Patty and Hometown Eatz-n-Sweetz were a long time coming to Roseville. Housed in what was originally conceived as a grocery store, they now share space with Compston Pallet Finds.

Roseville natives  Chris and Jessica Compston started the pallet store out of their garage, and then moved to Zanesville, near Walmart South. They were hunting for a new space when they were approached by members of Roseville Village Council.

First came Compston Pallet Sales, then came Hometown Eatz-n-Sweetz. The pallet sales paid for the restaurant, Chris said, and both feed off of each other. People waiting for their meals may wander over to see what deals can be found, while people searching through the items on sale may wander over for lunch. The products at the pallet sale store area rotating surprises. The Compstons purchase pallets of returned or discontinued items from various big box stores, and then break down the pallets and sell the contents for a discount. The pallet sales allowed Jessica to quit her job, and the restaurant allowed Chris to quit his.

Currently the only sit-down restaurant in the village, the restaurant is open for lunch and dinner. 

The building was originally built to be a grocery store. The $750,000 project was funded by USDA grants, as well as a $262,216 loan from People's State Bank. Lease payments on the property are used to pay down the loan.

The Compstons signed a two-year lease in March, and got to work building the store and the restaurant. The building was almost empty. There was a fire suppression hood in the kitchen, and not much else. 

"We had to get the range, flattop, griddle, stove, two fryers, all the fridges and freezers," Chris said. "We built the bars, got all the tables and chairs." They built a low wall to separate the restaurant from the store. High enough to provide some separation between the two businesses, but low enough for products to catch the eye of a diner. 

The flow of customers ebbs and flows, but the restaurant keeps busy. "We have 52 seats, and someone told us we would be lucky to have 52 customers a month," Chris said. "We probably see 100 tickets a day." That's a table's worth of orders per ticket.

"When we first opened, it was insane for a month," Chris said.

The menu is simple, but hearty and inexpensive. A variety of burgers and appetizers are available for lunch. The menu expands at dinner time to include favorites like ribeye steak and grilled porkchops. Everything is made to order, so if it is busy, expect to wait a few minutes. "This isn't McDonalds," Chris said. There is a special every day, many of which have proven so popular they sell out before dinner. Chris' favorite is the Fatty Patty, which in addition to its pair of burgers and trio of Texas toast, is topped with cheese, coleslaw and homemade barbecue sauce. The most popular is the pork tenderloin. The restaurant also sells a lot of ice cream. Twists are popular with the younger crowd, especially when kindergarten classes make the trip from Roseville Elementary. 

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Despite rising prices, the Compstons are resisting suggestions they raise their prices. "We are not here to get rich, we are here to make an impact," Jessica said. "As long as we get a pay check and have enough money to buy supplies, that's good enough for me."

The restaurant has held fundraisers, and hosted a popular flea market recently. "We are proving a new business can survive," Chris said. They employ about a dozen people in town too.

The Compstons take pride in seeing their regular customers, day in and day out. "That makes you feel great," Chris said, "like you are doing something right." They hope the success of Compston Pallett Finds and Home Town Eatz-n-Sweetz will inspire others to take a chance on Roseville.

ccrook@gannett.com

740-868-3708

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