not have to worry about the club. I had two daughters and had just decided to adopt a third. Selling the club would allow me to take six months off, to help her become acclimated to our family, and then I could start Tippy’s when everyone was comfortable. I’m also very lucky to have an understanding wife who put up with a husband who owned a club for their entire marriage. She’s as happy as I am to be opening a much more low-key business.” Low-key perhaps, but certainly not lacking in creativity, Hudson’s newest undertaking combines his go-to passion for making things attractive, comfortable, and contagious, with a proven culinary tradition over four decades in the making. Tippy’s is known in Metropolitan Virginia for its fresh Mexican food made daily, from scratch. Even the meat comes from local butchers. An array of customary Mexican staples are made-to-order and the signature tacos have a way of becoming the talk of the town. This particular location will be the first to offer fish and steak tacos, as well. “The main focus of Tippy’s is definitely the food. Everything is fresh and made daily—really good tasting food. It is a restaurant first. However, living in Stephens City, I couldn’t help but notice that there wasn’t a place to go watch sports while having a beer and some food.” And this is where Hudson’s experience comes in. Tippy’s is not traditionally known as a sports bar, and this one isn’t necessarily being marketed as one, but you can’t expect the former owner of the most successful live music club in this area not to fuse some type of entertainment and spirit into his version of an already-proven franchise. What Hudson has created is a family-friendly restaurant, with all the creature comforts of home (19-inch TVs at all the booths, extra large seating areas, and richin-tradition homemade recipes), as well as an extra “side” where the sports enthusiast can grab the game, a tasty bite, and a beer. And the bar section, outfitted with stylish copper sheet inlays and a wealth of seating, sits on the other side of a well-designed wall, separating the
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two themes, while upholding the integrity of both. But that’s just the general idea. Hudson’s involvement in local athletics will merge Tippy’s with youth sports promotion and the overall excitement of sports at every level. “When I was young and the coach asked us where we wanted to go after winning an important game, we always chose Tippy’s. The food was amazing. I’ve been involved in the soccer community in the Shenandoah Valley, from coaching at the youth level to playing and coaching semi-pro. We plan to film a youth game, or two, every week and show it on the TVs in the dining area and let the families come and watch while having dinner.” “I also fully intend on showing all the big boxing and MMA events, and of course, we’ll have the Sunday NFL ticket. Having been in the bar business for over twenty years, it would be foolish not to take advantage of an opportunity to provide a place like this.” Recognizing opportunity seems to be just another day at the office for Hudson. Involving the community in his efforts has always been part of his formula for success. In this case, he aims to provide a little something for everyone by recreating a nostalgic part of his life and combining it with some of the things he has come to enjoy along the way. If the past is any type of indication for the future, Tippy’s Tacos, in Stephens City, has come around at just the right time, and in just the right place. Which really comes as no surprise to those who know Terry. It should be noted that, as this issue hits the street, Hudson is already hard at work bringing his second Tippy’s to the Old Town Mall in Winchester. And if that’s not enough, the third one, in Front Royal, is scheduled for year’s end. Again, not exactly a surprise. Tippy’s sits comfortably at 175 Fairfax Pike in Stephens City. For more information, call 540.868.8667 - MC
Around The Panhandle | MAR • APR 2011