Twenty-seven years ago, Jimmy Dager, owner of The Galley, had a dream to sell food on Lake James Sandbar. After obtaining permits and building a boat himself for four years, Dager was ready to make 'Steak On the Lake' a reality.
When Dager first started his business, he started out with a smaller work boat on a pontoon platform. Once The Galley became so popular and profitable, he was able to upgrade to a boat that was two and a half times the size of his original boat.
His current boat even includes living quarters, as he keeps his boat parked in the water from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Dager sleeps on the boat every night throughout the summer to keep his business going every day.
"I grew up on the water, so there's nothing like sleeping on the water," Dager said. "I'm pretty secure out here and when it comes to storms and that, I look at it that you're going to go one way or another, sooner or later, so there's no reason to be scared about it. It's more like it's all in God's hands."
When Dager is not sleeping on the lake for three and a half months out of the year, he gets to travel and ride his Harley around the country. Although, Dager hardly ever gets bored on The Galley, as he is constantly being visited by passersby at the Sandbar. For the last seven years, Dager has sponsored tons of bands, DJs, and skydivers to entertain the hundreds of people at the Sandbar every weekend. There is nothing better than seeing a live band and watching skydivers jump into the lake all while eating some steak nuggets, which continues to be Dager's most popular food item! Even after twenty-three years since The Galley opened, it continues to thrive.
"I would say my proudest accomplishment is bringing it from a point of a concept to actually fruition where it's profitable and good for the community," Dager said.
Not only does Dager sell food to thousands of people every year, he has also become somewhat of a lifeguard to Lake James. Just last weekend, Dager was able to save an elderly man, whose boat got loose. Dager is at the lake not only because he loves running his food boat, but because he loves the Lake James community.
He also has 'The Galley Girls' to help him run the boat. Their job tasks include taking orders, preparing the food, and even grilling. Megan Prater, employee of The Galley, is working her fifth summer now. The way she gets to work is very different than a normal job. She will ride her personal jet-ski to the Sandbar and tie it up by the boat while she is working.
"There's nothing quite like it," Prater said. "When I tell people I work on a food boat, I always get, 'What, what, what's that?' And just being able to tell people and encourage people to see the restaurant on the water is definitely something that is going to be special forever."
Dager has sure left his mark on Lake James Sandbar. The Galley would not be the same without Dager there to brighten up everyone's day. Next year, we may even be seeing a new design to capsulate what The Galley truly is...a pirate ship!
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