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Nelson: The Blue Toad Sells – Becomes Rockfish One Fifty-One Pub On Monday

August 11, 2014

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Blue toad chamber4 — ©2012-2014 Blue Ridge Life : Photo By Tommy Stafford : Todd Rath (R) founder of The Blue Toad in Afton in this March 2012 photo, tells BRL that as of Monday - August 11, 2014 The Blue Toad in Afton has sold and has a new name. He also revealed preliminary plans for a new hard cider company in Nelson within the next 24 months.

Afton
Nelson County, Virginia
Back in the Summer of 2011 we introduced you to Todd Rath and his Blue Toad Restaurant and Pub that opened in the old D’Ambola’s Italian Restaurant building along Route 151 in Afton. As of Monday – August 11, 2014 the popular Nelson hangout has sold and will become Rockfish One Fifty-One Pub. “It’s bittersweet. I am involved in a logistics company, which is my real paycheck, many rental properties at Smith Mountain Lake, Blue Toad, the old BB&T bank building in Afton, the old Afton Family Medical building in Afton, and as big as I am, I’m just stretched too thin,” Blue Toad found Todd Rath laughingly told us on Sunday evening. He said future expansion plans here in Nelson coupled with an already full plate in other business ventures helped seal the decision to sell. Rath says the new pub owner is Randy Snead. “After a career of 20 years in public safety service, I’ve decided to continue to serve the public by offering a great place with a great atmosphere, good food an events at a decent price and with customer service being paramount. This is beautiful country and everyone I have met so far in the past week have been kind friendly and very excited,” Sneed said.

@2008-2014 Blue Ridge Life : Prior to The Blue Toad opening in 2011 the building was the home of D’Ambola’s Restaurant owned and operated by Phil D’Ambola (L) and his wife Linda. It was a hotspot for italian food since it opened in the early 2000’s until the 2011 change.

Todd also told BRL he’s involved in a relatively new venture that will bring Nelson’s second hard cider company to the area within the next 24 months. “Our goal to have a functioning cidery on 151 just across the road from our old Blue Toad within 2 years. It will have a cidery barn, an open air pavilion, along with a restaurant on the other side overlooking Pilot Mountain,” Todd added in our conversation Sunday evening.

©2014 Blue Toad Hard Cider : Image Courtesy of Todd Rath : The Blue Toad name will transfer to the new hard cider company in Afton that will be called Blue Toad Hard Cider. The new cidery is expected to open within 2 years on property already owned by Todd Rath.

Todd Rath says he recently purchased a hard cider company back in his home area of New York in Rochester.” The goal, once we are established in Rochester, is to put a location on our property already owned in Afton.”

Todd also recently bought the old Afton Family Medicine building in Afton near Five Star Fitness. Rath says he’s recently gotten approval for a 7 unit hotel and suites that should open in about 4 months.

Stay tuned!

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