Tuscarora Mill Restaurant turns 40

On a crisp December day in 1985, Kevin Malone opened the doors of Tuscarora Mill Restaurant in a restored nineteenth century grain mill along the banks of Catoctin Creek in Leesburg. It was Dec. 22, just days before Christmas, and the air carried the quiet anticipation of a town preparing to gather.

That morning marked more than the opening of a restaurant. It marked Kevin Malone’s belief in community, in Leesburg, in Loudoun County, and in the idea that hospitality, done right, could bring people together in lasting ways.

From the moment guests stepped inside, it was clear this was not simply a place to dine. It was a place to belong. The gentle clink of glasses, the low hum of conversation, and the aroma of fresh herbs and baking bread created an atmosphere that felt familiar even on its very first day. Tuscarora Mill Restaurant did not feel new. It felt rooted.

Kevin Malone was born in Washington, D.C., and raised in Annandale by his parents, Jeanne and Ed Malone, alongside his sister Diane and brothers Ted and Shawn. He graduated from Annandale High School, and with the encouragement of his parents, enrolled in the Professional Bartending School in Arlington, which still exists today. It was there that Malone discovered what would become the defining force of his life. Working with people was not just a job. It was his calling.

Behind the bar at various venues in the area, he learned how to listen, how to connect, how to read a room, and how to make every guest feel seen. He understood early on that hospitality was about relationships. Every person mattered. Every moment counted. That philosophy became the heartbeat of Tuscarora Mill Restaurant and never wavered.

Kevin, along with his brother Shawn Malone, was mentored by famed restaurateur Jim Wordsworth at J.R.’s Steak House in Fairfax. Under Wordsworth’s guidance, they learned the fundamentals of running a restaurant, from operations and consistency to leadership and accountability. The lessons he absorbed during that time became foundational to the way Tuscarora Mill Restaurant was built and operated.

Malone’s love for Leesburg and Loudoun County was shaped long before Tuskie’s ever opened. In the late 1970s, his father Ed and his younger cousin Pat Malone both owned and raced thoroughbreds at Charles Town Races in West Virginia. Kevin often traveled with them, coming to appreciate the landscape, the people, and the character of Loudoun County. Those experiences planted the roots of a connection that would later grow into a lifelong commitment to the region.

Establishing Tuscarora Mill Restaurant required vision, patience, and trusted partners. Malone worked closely with developer Bruce N. Brownell and architect Beckham W. Dickerson to ensure that Market Station and Tuscarora Mill honored the history of the mill while creating a space that felt warm, welcoming, and alive.

From the very first night on Dec. 22, 1985, Kevin was surrounded by a team whose talent and dedication brought his vision to life. Gerry Waldron, Tuskie’s legendary bartender, was there from the start, setting a standard for warmth, attentiveness, and professionalism. Among the early team members were Marko Carrero, Angela Dean, Tim Rumfelt, Bishop Alexander, and others who played important roles during the restaurant’s earliest weeks. As Tuscarora Mill settled into its rhythm, additional team members joined, including Wendy Cain, David Dwyer, Kevin’s brother restaurateur Shawn Malone, and fellow restaurateur Patrick Dinh. Together, they helped transform Kevin’s dream into a living, enduring restaurant.

Malone was also a pioneer of local sourcing in Loudoun County long before the term farm-to-table became fashionable. In the early days, he actively sought out local farmers, believing that great food began with strong relationships and regional pride.

Working closely with Warren Howell, then Loudoun County Agricultural Officer, Malone hosted dinners that showcased locally grown products and helped connect farmers directly with chefs and diners. Over time, those partnerships deepened, with farmers asking what to grow to support the evolving menus at Tuscarora Mill and across the restaurant group. That commitment to local farms, wineries, and producers remains a defining feature of Tuskie’s today.

Wine was another of Malone’s great passions. He developed lasting relationships with wineries throughout Loudoun County and across the Commonwealth of Virginia, regularly featuring their wines at themed dinners and special events.

He also curated what became one of the most respected wine selections in the Mid Atlantic. Kevin believed wine enhanced not only food, but conversation and connection, and at Tuscarora Mill it was always an essential part of the experience.

Malone was a familiar presence to guests for decades. Many evenings found him greeting people in the bar area, checking on guests waiting for a table, or moving easily through the dining room. He greeted longtime regulars, welcomed first time visitors, and shared stories whenever the moment allowed. He connected just as naturally with staff, offering encouragement and guidance during busy service. Those interactions became inseparable from the Tuscarora Mill experience.

At the center of everything was family. Kevin’s love for his wife Kathleen was deep and unwavering, and her partnership was essential to the success of Tuscarora Mill Restaurant. Their children, Colin, Evan, Aemon, Regan, and Laney, were all part of the journey in different ways over the years. Tuscarora Mill was never just Kevin’s creation. It was a family endeavor built on shared commitment and care of a community that still endures today.

That legacy extends throughout Leesburg and beyond through the Tuskie’s Hospitality Group, which includes Fire Works Pizza, South Street Under, and Birkby House in Leesburg, Magnolia’s at the Mill in Purcellville, and The Old Brogue and Katie’s Coffee House in Great Falls, operated by Colin Malone. Each reflects Kevin’s guiding principles of warmth, quality, and community.

Malone also held deep respect for those who served the public. He admired the Leesburg Police Department, the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, the Virginia State Police, and members of the United States military. He maintained strong relationships with Mayor Kelly Burk, the Leesburg Town Council, Chair Phyllis J. Randall, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, and members of the Virginia General Assembly. Kevin believed strong communities were built on trust, cooperation, and mutual respect.

Kevin Malone passed away on July 1, 2023. Today, nearly forty years after he first opened the doors, Tuscarora Mill Restaurant stands as a living tribute to his life, his values, and his enduring presence.
What endures at Tuskie’s most is not just a restaurant, but Malone’s way of welcoming people that
continues every day right in the heart of downtown Leesburg.