Thelma’s may be moving… you’ll never guess where
Dec 9, 2010 Restaurant news/reviews
The corner in question.
Breaking food news: The owners of Thelma’s Chicken & Waffles on Orange Avenue in Roanoke are looking to move downtown. The exact location? That beautiful space that formerly housed Meze World Cafe, Trio and other restaurants.
I spoke this morning with Thelma’s manager Bernard Chege, who said “It is not a rumor. The wheels are moving.” Chege said they will keep the menu almost exactly the same, at least in the beginning. But one big change will be an ABC permit. They currently do not sell alcohol at the restaurant on Orange Avenue. But Chege said they’re excited about that lovely bar downtown, and they want to sell wine and cocktails with a Southern twist.
Thelma Dillon, who opened the restaurant in 2007, retired shortly thereafter, Chege said. The restaurant is now owned by her sons, Chris Mayo and Junior Taylor. No word on when, exactly, the move will take place. Chege said they’re still waiting on everything to come together.
OK, folks, how do you like THEM waffles?
Proud member of the family!
Comment by Uptheriver — December 9, 2010 @ 12:19 pm
Hot damn!
Comment by Debbie — December 9, 2010 @ 12:20 pm
Let’s hope that whatever curse that lies on restaurants in that corner has been eradicated.
Comment by Lori — December 9, 2010 @ 12:30 pm
Maybe the ghosts of all those Harlem jazz musicians who dreamed up chicken and waffles will run the curse out of there.
Comment by Lindsey Nair — December 9, 2010 @ 12:33 pm
I’ve never been to Thelma’s, but if it is like the Chicken & Waffles proffered elsewhere, then I am all in!
Comment by abdnva — December 9, 2010 @ 12:35 pm
I feel like it might be the right combination of place and time. Downtown could use that sort of vibe. And if they have managed to last this long in their current kiss-of-death location, they might just be the ones to break the corner curse.
Comment by Jeff — December 9, 2010 @ 12:56 pm
BEST food in town!
Comment by Walker — December 9, 2010 @ 1:26 pm
PLEASE just have a good brunch especially on Saturday and Sunday!! Trios was always hoppin on Sunday brunch! Miss that so much.
Comment by Deeanna — December 9, 2010 @ 1:28 pm
Wow I finally get my wish for fried chiken within walking distance of my downtown office. The only problem is I’ve been watching calories and I’ve lost 15 to 20 lbs in the last 2 months! How am I supposed to fit chicken and waffles into my daily intake?
Comment by Original Greg — December 9, 2010 @ 1:33 pm
I think that’s great. Good luck to them!
Comment by Howard — December 9, 2010 @ 1:53 pm
Best waffles in town. Tiffany has my diet pepsi on the table before I can sit down.
Comment by Mike — December 9, 2010 @ 2:13 pm
Great news. I’ll try the location out…Keep us posted as to when they open in the new location.
Comment by jogger — December 9, 2010 @ 2:19 pm
Three piece all thighs, large waffle, side of home fries, hot sauce & syrup….I can’t wait!
Comment by Jamie — December 9, 2010 @ 2:57 pm
I’m happy that fried chicken is coming downtown too, OG. Sometimes I crave it, and no place down here has it. Just make it an occasional splurge and you’ll be okay.
Comment by Debbie — December 9, 2010 @ 3:10 pm
LOVE THELMA’S–Tequoia, Tiffany, and Bernard are wonderful. The food is fabulous! I, too, am a proud member of the family. I do have mixed feelings about the move downtown, however. Not too convenient to run in and grab a bite like their location now. Will have to find and pay for parking downtown and then make sure you get back before your meter runs out so you don’t get a ticket from the meter maids… I do wish them the best of luck in their new location and am happy for them though–just wish it was a more convenient, visible location…
Comment by MeJustMe — December 9, 2010 @ 4:17 pm
I love Thelmas! I hope they don’t get bit by whatever jinx is on that spot.
I love the chicken and waffles, and the pork is divine. Yum!
Comment by Kristen — December 9, 2010 @ 4:48 pm
I read online the other day, about a restaurant owner having his new place blessed, because all previous restaurants in the same location had closed. I can’t find the story now, but when I read it, it made me think of the Meze building. I hope Thelma’s does break the curse.
Comment by Debbie — December 9, 2010 @ 4:58 pm
@MeJustSay, keep in mind that on street parking in Downtown Roanoke is free (no meters) and other on the biggest Farmers Market days, there is usually lots of parking on that block of Market Street.
Visitors looking to spend a longer lunch or not interested in finding a space can take advantage of Park Roanoke’s “lunch special” for $1 flat rate at the Market Lot. Here’s some details: http://www.downtownroanoke.org/go/market-lot
Comment by Sean L — December 9, 2010 @ 7:21 pm
Love Thelma’s! Food, service, and now a wonderful new location! You will see me there!!!
Comment by Alice — December 9, 2010 @ 8:32 pm
Well I guess I’ll have put my 2 cent in although mine will not be a positive as all posts so far.
I personally have had very mixed results with Thelma’s in three visits.
The first was soon after they opened and terrible. The short of it (explained in detail in the original blog) I left without ever eating. No other customers there, 15+minutes no food and tea with no taste.
Went back after 6 months or so and everything went well. I was honestly impressed.
Went back a week or two later. Dud. The food was not hot and was nowhere nearly as tasty as before. One thing on both visits was the sides were puny. I actually left hungry and I’m not a big eater. Leaving hungry after dropping nearly $9 (minus tip) even a few years ago was a big turn off.
There must be something I’m missing as they have lasted a long time and they are popular here.
I personally have not been back.
One other thing. Thelma’s is listed as CJ’s on the Health departments web site.
Comment by Other Mike — December 10, 2010 @ 2:20 am
Thelmas has got something going for it and I think the location should work for them. The market location will require them to become more of an “upscale” type eatery with more demanding customers. It will be interesting to see if they succeed at that corner! Good Luck!
Comment by Jack — December 10, 2010 @ 10:13 am
@Sean L: Thank you for the information on downtown parking! This will be quite helpful. Maybe the new Thelma’s location will not be as bad for me to get to as I was imagining it to be! THANKS! Happy Dining!
Comment by MeJustMe — December 10, 2010 @ 10:39 am
Well, I guess that’s all right–for people working downtown. For those of us who would have to cope with the terrible on-street parking there or the overpriced parking lots–not too good.
Comment by David Farnham — December 10, 2010 @ 10:44 am
David, check out Sean L’s comment above.
Comment by Lindsey Nair — December 10, 2010 @ 11:12 am
Im going to be the other killjoy on here.
My husband and I went to Thelma’s 2x. The first time, the food took more than 30 minutes to arrive, and with a 2 year old, that was hell. The food was ok but not write home to momma!
The second time, the service was timely but my husband went to the bathroom and came out completely disgusted. We then really took a look around and noticed just how dirty the place was.
On the upside, I guess moving into an upscale location will handle the filth I saw at the current location.
Comment by nll — December 10, 2010 @ 11:22 am
Thelma’s is AWESOME! I don’t know the names, but the servers recognize me and say “welcome back” every time I go there. I’ve eaten there a lot of times and have never had a bad meal or anything but excellent service! I don’t hesitate to take guests w/ me, and that says something too. I wish them the best with their move and will do my best to support them!
Comment by Dennis — December 10, 2010 @ 11:31 am
We have enough upscale eateries downtown. We sorely need a down home place.
Comment by Debbie — December 10, 2010 @ 12:16 pm
OMFG! Please be open late, please be open late, please please please!
Give it a diner feel and keep Tiffany, she’s the best! Any place that
batters and deep fat fries country ham has my dollar! Plus, on Sundays
they play gospel music, so it counts as going to church! I hope the other downtowners support them if they do this.
Comment by Shaun Vaughn — December 10, 2010 @ 5:33 pm
Well, I was too lame to stay out late for the Sauce Boss show at Blue 5 last night, but I did have dinner at Thelma’s.
The service was friendly, and while not snappy, it was not slow. The food rocked. Man, those waffles could be addictive. Howard had meatloaf with Thelma’s sauce. It was great.
The building, I have to say, is very worn down. They definitely need new space, and maybe the move is just what they need. The menu definitely does not need any help, in my opinion.
Comment by Lindsey Nair — December 11, 2010 @ 9:21 am
We Salem folk are also members of the family. We frequently make the trek to Thelma’s for Saturday lunch and have thoroughly enjoyed it every time. Bernard and Tiffany are just great! I don’t see a need for going upscale to succeed in their new location. In Charlotte there is a restaurant right in the heart of center city called Mert’s Heart and Soul. As the name implies it is a soul food restaurant and is always packed. Thelma’s comes closest in their menu offerings to Mert’s. Maybe downtown needs a good old meat and potatoes place. They surely have plenty of upscale places now.
On another topic – we tried to go to Teaberry’s on Main in Salem recently. It surely appears to be gone! Locked and all the signage has been removed. What happened??
Comment by Peggy Miller — December 12, 2010 @ 4:56 pm
There is nothing as good as getting the waffles and chicken as brunch on Sunday from thelmas. The have great food but also the personnel are polite and very friendly that you forget the delay in getting the food ready. The new location will be ideal for the downtown folks. All the best Bernard and crew.
Comment by John Terry — December 13, 2010 @ 2:28 pm
Two ideas i’ve heard that aren’t good ones:
1. Live music at Thelma’s
2. Liquor license. And thats coming from someone that loves the sauce.
Don’t try to be something you’re not. The biggest competition DT is Ernie’s. Capitalize on the fact that they aren’t open late.
Comment by Shaun Vaughn — December 13, 2010 @ 9:03 pm
What else are they going to do with that bar if not serve drinks?
The spot is huge. They’d be fine with half of it…I think the size – and rent – are part of the problem with that location.
Comment by Kristen — December 14, 2010 @ 10:34 am
I don’t see Ernie’s as competition, because they are mostly a sandwich place.
Comment by Debbie — December 14, 2010 @ 12:01 pm
Peggy, I’m a fellow Salemite and I know that Teaberry’s has been closed for several weeks. I do not know what happened other than there seemed to be less and less cars there as time went on.
We went to Thelma’s this past Sunday and they were packed! But they were staffed for it and we had the same great service and awesome food that we always have! Tiffany was not our server but the young lady we had was very excited about the move. I predict that they will make it downtown as long as they keep the food and service as they are now.
Comment by Dennis — December 14, 2010 @ 5:41 pm