The South Street station is one of a handful of constants in the village of Ettrick, a small blue-collar community on the southernmost tip of Chesterfield County.

There are no four-star restaurants here, no gated communities or high-end retail shops. Actually, there's no retail shopping at all to speak of.

"It's a small place across the river from Petersburg," said John Stackhouse, who has lived in Ettrick since 1954. "I raised five children here. It was a good place to raise children."

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While the village of Ettrick is best known for Virginia State University -- the first fully state-supported, four-year institution of higher learning for blacks in the United States many say its quaint atmosphere has kept many residents here for years. Ettrick Park is a big bonus for children in the area.

"I was born and raised in Ettrick, when you could leave your doors open and everyone was friendly," said Larry Belcher, president of the Ettrick Neighborhood and Business Foundation.

Belcher said residents need to do a better job of getting Ettrick back to the way it was.

"We need to work toward home ownership rather than tenant-occupied," he said. "I have seen some new stuff come online. That's a positive."

But that's not all that's good in this village community.

There are half-pound burgers and strawberry cake at Ettrick Deli and homemade chicken and dumplings and real barbecue at Jeff's Place.

On Wednesdays, Jeff's features karaoke.

"Everybody gets up and sings, which is a good thing," said Patsy Traylor, who works there.

Traylor said to get your hands on the mike at Jeff's is one thing; to get your name memorialized on the bar in front of a stool is quite another.

First, you have to drink.

Then, "you gotta die," Traylor said.

Judy Harris and her husband, Pat, recently bought the restaurant/bar.

"My sister and I grew up here in Ettrick," Judy Harris said. "My father always used to tell me, I better never catch you in that beer joint."

She can't help but laugh now.

"There's a lot of history in this old place," she said.

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In the early 1600s, Ettrick was occupied by the Appomattox Indians. The Indian village burned in 1676 during Bacon's Rebellion.

Later, the Appomattox River helped transform Ettrick into a bustling town by powering mills along its bank. The mill companies built double-tenement houses to lease to some workers. Instead of mills, Ettrick is now home to plenty of car repair shops.

Ray Bradley, manager of Reflections, a car-detail shop around the corner from Jeff's, said he always sends his customers over to the restaurant.

"It can get a little wild at night. But the food is good," he said.

Mario Davis, 24, works at Reflections. He said he learned to wash cars when he was 6 years old.

"I try to give the customers what they want and do a good job," he said, waxing a jet black Volkswagen Beetle. "Quality is the main thing."

Customers who frequent the businesses in Ettrick say they come back again and again for the friendly service.

That and the fact that there's not much else in town.

"Ettrick starts there and ends there," said John Saba, pointing to the street outside his restaurant, Ettrick Deli.

Lynda Garner said she has frequented the deli for years.

"It's these friendly people," she said. "They are really great. And the food, of course, is good."

The restaurant's slogan: "Fill your belly at Ettrick Deli."

Saba bought the restaurant, which has an enclosed porch and picnic tables for those looking to dine in, three years ago.

Many who work at Virginia State frequent the lunch and dinner spot.

"They are always so busy," said Felecia Reid, who works at the university. "I like their barbecue."

Regulars also swear by the Bull Burger, which is a half pound of meat, chicken-bacon ranch sandwich and the really, really sweet tea.

"All of our desserts are homemade," Saba said, including the coconut pie and rice pudding. "The meat is fresh. The chicken is fresh."

Lisa Johnson, who works in the kitchen, says she is helping to pay off her husband's Harley-Davidson one boxed lunch at a time.

At Ettrick Deli, a few customers have their own sandwich.

"Some people will walk in and say, 'can I have a Wayne sandwich,'" Saba said.

Wayne Boyd, who works at Cabinet World of Petersburg, has his name on the wall.

He said he eats at the deli at least four times a week.

Somehow, they always knows what he wants -- a Philly steak and cheese sub with mayo, tomatoes and Italian dressing.

"I come almost every day," Boyd said. "I've got to eat. And, they've got good food."