Just a few steps away from the campus of William & Mary, Retro’s Good Eats is a familiar haunt for students.
Owners Billy and Sharon Scruggs have made a point to make their business an even bigger presence in the lives of the W&M community, holding a slew of fundraisers and profit shares to benefit student groups.
Their work extends beyond the college as well, with Retro’s providing assistance to other local groups like the Bruton High Band Boosters and Williamsburg Youth Orchestra.
Sharon Scruggs said people frequently turn to the establishment for help, with upward of three solicitations per week from college students. While Retro’s used to provide gift cards to groups for their fundraising efforts, they realized they reached only a handful of customers that way.
That led to the start of Retro’s bingo nights, where the restaurant offers food and prizes for an evening of number calling. Groups can sell boards in advance to raise funds or charge admission at the door.
Retro’s has hosted about 12 events so far, with the most recent supporting the Catholic Campus Ministry’s Haiti Team.
In addition to supporting a worthy cause, the Scruggs said these partnerships with the community are good business sense.
The restaurant tends to be less busy in the evening, Sharon said. By bringing in visitors, they are building traffic that night and creating an audience that might keep coming back.
“We want to have that buzz going on,” Billy said.
Sharon also said that while some students complain about not having activities in town, Retro’s can provide a good experience.
“We want to be one of those places to go to, and things to do,” she said.
It is a boon that eventually comes full circle.
Retro’s would not be able to hand out donations to every group that approaches the owners, but they can provide the opportunity to raise those funds for organizations. Clubs who encourage patronage to the restaurant drive sales, which in turn increases what the restaurant contributes in profit shares and through other means.
“It’s a win-win,” said Billy.
Billy and Sharon are looking forward to a weeklong profit share in the spring, where 10 percent of the proceeds from five days of business will help W&M’s Relay for Life project.
