A Hampton Roads native is now the owner of a sports bar he used to visit decades ago, turning a familiar spot into a gathering place for the community.
For nearly five years, Rondell Norfleet has owned Norfleet’s Sports Bar and Grill on Newtown Road in Virginia Beach, where customers come to relax, enjoy food and spend time together.
“They come here to just have a good time, you know, let your hair down and just vibe out,” Norfleet told 13News Now.
Norfleet runs the business with help from his family, including his aunt, stepfather, brothers and mother.
The restaurant serves classic American fare, including wings, seasoned fries and macaroni and cheese. Norfleet said the restaurant’s lemon pepper fish has also gained attention online.
“It went viral,” he told us. “It put it onto a higher platform than I even expected.”
Inside the dining room, a pink banner honors Norfleet’s mother, who battled and beat breast cancer. Norfleet said her experience and recovery have been an inspiration to him.
“She had to go through a recovery process, but she’s the blessing to the building. She’s the queen of Norfleet’s.”
He also credits her with encouraging her three children to pursue their career goals while raising them as a single mother.
“She’s the one that gave me the drive and the motivation to step out on faith to even just give it a shot,” Norfleet explained.
As a Hampton Roads native, the restaurant owner hopes his business will encourage young people in the area to pursue entrepreneurship and see business ownership as an attainable goal.
“Let the young people know, hey, you can do it,” he said. “I was just like you, man. I was trying to figure it out. It’s just a safe environment.”
In addition to the restaurant, Norfleet owns the barber shop next door.
Norfleet’s Sports Bar and Grill is open Wednesday through Sunday.
This piece is part of 13News Now’s weekly Friday Flavor segment. If you have an idea of where Marta Berglund should visit next, send her an email at mberglund@13newsnow.com or message her on social media.
