GREEN COVE SPRINGS – There are very few moments when Mallorie Dippy can take a break. There are orders to be delivered to tables; drinks to be poured; schedules to be made; critical business decisions to be made.

There is no time for fatigue, nor is there a time to be distracted.

“I feel plenty energized all the time,” she said. “This is always what I wanted to do, so I’ve got lots of life to give to it.”

Mallorie and her husband, Nathan, bought the iconic Ronnie’s Wings, Oysters and More adjacent to Spring Park two months ago. The previous owner, Ronnie Munsey, opened the doors at 232 Walnut St. 33 years ago.

Former bartender-turned-owner, Mallorie has embraced some of the restaurant’s cozy charm, the couple wasted little time in making it their own place.

“I worked for Ronnie for eight months, give or take, before I bought it,” Mallorie said. “I was sharing my dream. There was no sticker shock when I bought it. I may have done things quicker than anticipated by everyone, but I definitely let it be known I was going to put my touch on it. Just updating it. Upgrades and little facelift to the building.”

Like many in the restaurant business, Mallorie said her greatest challenge is adding depth to her staff. She said she’s surrounded by good servers, but she needs more. And while she’s concerned about the quantity of help, she’s not willing to build a staff that doesn’t meet her demand for quality.

“I want to bring back the lost art of serving,” she said.

While some now believe success in the restaurant business to be fleeting, Mallorie was convinced her dedication and attention to detail would give her more than a fighting chance.

One of the noticeable changes will be the days the restaurant is opened. Until she gets the help she needs to give everyone much-needed time off, the doors will be closed on Mondays starting on March 21.

“There definitely are different challenges than what I expected,” she said. “I did a lot of research, Restaurants for Dummies book about running a restaurant. Thankfully, I have a lot of experience, not necessarily in managing, but just how restaurants are run. I paid a lot of attention to management styles in the industry. I was a bartender. Obviously, this is a lot more magnanimous because it’s your sole responsibility.

“Management just wasn’t my gig. The money wasn’t there. I was working 9 to 5 as a bartender and it was awesome. This is what I wanted to do all along.”

The Dippys approached the Green Cove Springs City Council at its last meeting to ask for clarification on city ordinances that could allow them to open service to their parking lot during pleasant days and special events in the park.

“Definitely want to bring it out safely and accommodatingly as much as possible,” she said. “We just want to have a good time and give people a safe place to do that and enjoy the beautiful weather we have and the gorgeous scenery we have around us.”