Two Bridgeport Residents, including BHS Grad, Open Restaurant with Unique Setup in State Tourist Hotspot
By Jeff Toquinto on July 20, 2026
A pair of Bridgeport residents, one of whom is a Bridgeport High School graduate, have recently entered the restaurant business.
Seneca Whyte, a 2017 graduate of BHS, and her business partner Curtis Carr, originally from Parsons, have opened the Blackwater Galley. If you have not seen it locally, it is because the duo are doing business in Thomas, in Tucker County.
The hotspot tourist destination is known for many unique and high quality dining options. This one, a breakfast only eatery open on the weekends, began operations May 17 with a soft opening. They officially kicked things off with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 29.
“It's the result of great timing and an opportunity for our dreams to become a reality,” said Whyte.
The reason for only opening on the weekends? Both maintain full-time jobs here in Harrison County. Even with the unique time window, the start of the business has been solid.
“Things are going great,” said Whyte. “The response has been overwhelming. Several weeks in and we’re already seeing repeat customers, we’re hearing from people who have heard about us from locals, or they came by after a reading a Google review.”
If Seneca Whyte’s name does not ring an immediate bell for those locally, her great-grandfather’s business will. He owned J. Eddie’s Candies and The Millstone Restaurant on Main Street.
“I never had the privilege of meeting him, but many family heirlooms from his restaurant are used in Blackwater Galley's kitchen today. I 
would like to think he would be both excited and proud,” said Whyte.
would like to think he would be both excited and proud,” said Whyte.
He may also like the fact that the Blackwater Galley focuses on using local ingredients and crafting quality plates. Although claiming not to be “fancy,” the business is taking a farm to table approach and support local business.
“We are making weekly trips to unite with real people with real businesses in our communities. Our current list of partners extends no further than 45 miles from our restaurant's doorstep,” said Whyte.
Some of the partners include Bailey’s Bread (Parsons), Carriage House Bakery & Foods (Aurora), Belington Bakery (Belington), Teets Meat Packing (Elkins), Brookside Farm (Aurora), Still Hollow Spirits (Harman), and R&A Honey and Bees (Rowlesburg).
Offerings of breads the above listed bakeries are on the menu. The restaurant also offers various breads for retail sale including two types of gluten free bread (Carriage House Bakery & Foods), four flavors of sourdough loaves (Bailey's Bread), and five flavors of bagels
(Belington Bakery) including their rotating bagel of the month and a Blackwater Galley exclusive, rosemary, and olive oil.
(Belington Bakery) including their rotating bagel of the month and a Blackwater Galley exclusive, rosemary, and olive oil.
“We are always open to working with new partners as well. Currently, we are looking for a local (to Thomas area) partner for jams and jellies. While we collaborate with local partners for our breads, meats, eggs, cheeses, etc., we are also making legit biscuits and gravy from scratch every morning,” said Whyte. “The biscuits and the gravy are both made with organic, unbleached flour and a lot of love.”
Another priority for Blackwater Galley is the eatery’s offerings of gluten free, vegan, and vegetarian options. Whyte said offerings, as of now, are limited. Whyte and Carr are encouraging those coming to the restaurant to share ideas and concerns relating to dietary 
restrictions so they can be accommodated.
restrictions so they can be accommodated.
That should serve the new business well. Along with plenty of locals, the area in Tucker County sees thousands of visitors each month.
“We’re grateful for the support we’ve already seen from the community. Tourism has helped as well,” said Whyte.
As for the name? White described it as the following:
“The premise of our restaurant's namesake is built on both the history of the Blackwater 100 in the neighboring town of Davis and a military background. Ending in 1993, the Blackwater 100 was a staple for locals and the pinnacle of
off-road racing that later became GNCC - the Grand National Cross Country Series. I spent many years attending races up and down the East Coast with my family and still enjoy catching the local stops on the schedule like Snowshoe and the Buckwheat 100.
off-road racing that later became GNCC - the Grand National Cross Country Series. I spent many years attending races up and down the East Coast with my family and still enjoy catching the local stops on the schedule like Snowshoe and the Buckwheat 100.
“While Blackwater Galley is not located directly in Davis, it sure is committed to preserving the heritage of the racing community. Displayed in our front window is a 1989 Honda XR100 with a Dave Coombs memorial sticker on the front number plate. Without the Coombs family, there would be no GNCC racing. We are on the lookout for more memorabilia and invite folks to bring their trophies, flyers, apparel, etc. to put on display.
“The Galley half comes from (Carr’s) military background. He served five years in the Navy, protecting our country and serving during Desert Storm. Historically, a galley is a long and narrow kitchen that is confined, featuring a highly efficient cooking space, and are most often found on military transports, like ships and aircrafts. Since Blackwater Galley is only 850 square feet and is proudly veteran-owned and operated, it fits the galley description.”
The address is The Milkint Building, 172 Spruce Street, Thomas, WV 26292. Hours of operation are Friday through Sunday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. The phone number is 681-228-9013.
Click HERE for the Website. Click HERE for the Facebook page, which features the menu (and updated items) near the top of the page. They can be found on Instagram and www.instagram.com/blackwatergalley. They can be found on TikTok at www.tiktok.com/@blackwatergalley.
Editor's Note: Top photo shows Seneca Whyte, left, and Curtis Carr outside their new establishment. Second and third photo shows a few of the food options available. The fourth photo shows the May ribbon cutting taking place, while a picture of the interior is shown below. All photos here, or used on social media platforms, are courtesy of Seneca Whyte and the Blackwater Galley Facebook page.
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