The Library closes after 33 years
The Roanoke Times l File photo.
The Library, a 33-year-old fine dining restaurant in Roanoke, has closed.
Owner Lowell Hill said business started to decline five or six years ago and “the economy was certainly the culprit.”
The Library, located in the Piccadilly Square shopping center on Franklin Road, is the third long-lived, independently owned Roanoke restaurant to fold in recent weeks. Little Chef closed Aug. 28 after more than 50 years in business, and Friday was the last day for 28-year-old Tudor’s Biscuit World.
All of the restaurant owners have cited rising costs in a bad economy as the major downfall.
“It seems like fine dining restaurants really took a hit,” Hill said. “We just never actually rebounded from the economy problem.”
The Library opened in 1979 and changed hands several times over the years, but Hill, who has held positions as maitre’d and manager, was a constant presence. Hill said The Library continued to do a “great job” upholding the restaurant’s reputation over the past few years, but he just didn’t have enough customers.
– Lindsey Nair
Will you miss The Library? Do you have fond memories of dining there? If so, I’d love to hear about that. Post a comment on this blog entry
September 19, 2012 - 11:42 AM
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This breaks my heart. I thought the Library was such a special place. Like stepping back in time…
They will be missed.
So sad. I dated a waiter there in the eighties. Those were so great days at the library and Lowell was the consummate gracious host. Such a gentleman.
JUST MY LUCK , GOT A 100
GIFT CERTIFICATE FROM THEM
2 WEEKS AGO. GO FIGURE.
GUESS THEY NEEDED THE MONEY !!
I never dined there. Now, I guess I never will.
Much better than Frankie Rowlands….we will miss it and Lowell.
I had not been there, but heard good reports. This does not speak well for Beamer’s 25, that will open soon using Frank Beamer’s name. In the past, restaurants associated with Beamer have been a “bust” and it could be another is coming.
Very sad! Wonderful food, great service and atmosphere.
So sorry to hear this news. It has been one of my favorite restaurants over the years. I have celebrated alot of special occassions there. Lowell and Gregory (maitre’de) were the greatest and will be missed.
Oh, and Lowell had the coolest car…want to say a Rolls Royce but not sure…ask him about it and get a picture.
I’m sorry for them, but I can’t help thinking that it’s not the economy so much as changing tastes. Downtown alone is innundated with high end restaturants. I think they just became irrelevant.
Hate to see another local close. They were a top notch location for special occasions. The economy surely has something to do with recent closings, but the 20th century business plans need to be updated to the 21st century. Those of us that dined at these locations for years are retired, on limited incomes, and just do not eat out as much.
I worked there in the early eighties.The restaurant and Lowell were first class. I learned many things that I have used through my life. This is a great loss for the Roanoke Valley. Hey Lowell if you’re reading. I transfered up from Myrtle Beach. I have many fond memories and stories that I still share with friends.
I enjoyed them for the first time in 1979.
It was a “special-occasion” type of place. Back when it was one of the few white tablecloth places in Roanoke, it was special. But its time has come and gone.
It’s sad to see the things that add to the uniqueness of our city lost. I wish it were easier for restaurateurs, but am very sympathetic for all they endure. I guess that’s why chains survive – a proven formula with little room for variation.
While many ‘old timers’ are citing the economy as ‘the’ reason for closing I’d have to debate that.
There are far more fine dining (more accurately NEW dining) restaurants opening in Roanoke than have closed in recent years.
If these establishments don’t keep up with food and dining trends; if they don’t invest and update their interior aesthetics; if they don’t adjust to what the consumer wants rather than continuing to do what they’ve always done they WILL in fact close down.
It is sad – but very true – and in an effort to save face blaming it all on an economy is the easiest way out.
Yes, because I never got to go! I was saving for another week or two before I made reservations… Oh well.
I thoroughly enjoyed watching the Titanic partygoers back in April.
My husband and I celebrated our first anniversary at The Library and it was an experience to remember. Sad to see this article.
This is so so sad!! Every time I’ve been to The Library I have felt like a queen, as if I were the only person that Gregory was waiting on hand and foot. He made everyone feel special from the greeting at the door to the goodbye after a great evening. He remembered everyone’s name and knew what they wanted to drink and where they wanted to sit. He was so caring and attentive. I will miss my very rare opportunities to “dine” at The Library.
As one would enter The Library, the manager, bartender and sommelier all one of the same, the consummate professional Mr. Lowell Hill would always greet every guest by name and they would awake from their enchantment, it was he who would lead them to a table in the elegant, dining room that was unarguably the class of the Roanoke Valley for many years. The Library was a Roanoke institution that I am sadden to hear is gone yet am proud to say it’s where my education in the industry began. Thank You Lowell for all you taught me personally and for enriching a culture in a small town that I’m still proud to call home. You did it with a sense of Excellence!
Where else in Roanoke will we ever receive the fine service, wonderful food, special atmosphere and attention to every detail when it comes to dining? These days establishments like The Library are difficult to find in small market areas like Roanoke. Lowell Hill and his impecable staff provided many memorable meals for our family and friends in our long association and they will be greatly missed by the entire Ferguson family.
I think by any definition 33 years makes a successful restaurant.
It is sad to see such a long lived restaurant close. I never ate there.
Roanoke has so many new restaurants and more coming all the time, I think the pool is just so full that at least in our case, we have trouble choosing. Good problem for us, bad for some older restaurants.
Montano’s has been here a while and still seems to be packed often. Great food too!
Roanoke still has an abundance of fantastic restaurants!
You have to adapt to change and The Library failed to do so. Its price point remained too high considering the down economy. I wish the employees and owner well.
I am so sorry to hear about this.My last visit to the The Library was no to long ago. My Uncle Dave hosted a dinner there honoring my brother Paul’s life. Lowell and Gregory made the dinner a moment I will never forget…the food was incredible and several of Paul’s close friends attended along with my cousin Richard. Once again ….so sorry to hear this.
Felt like I took a stomach punch when I heard of the closing. Absolutely my and my wife’s favorite restaurant anywhere through multiple cities. Nothing compared and we’ve tried quite a few of the upscale places in Richmond and NoVa. Gregory meeting you at the door, greeting you as if you were old friends and taking care of your every request was as much a part of the ambiance as anything else. Lowell singing for the guests was always a treat. Two hours of being treated like royalty and enjoying the finest She Crab soup anywhere followed by a delicious entree and a great dessert will be missed. Very sad to hear this – nothing in Roanoke even comes close!
Two of the biggest failures of locally owned businesses is in poor marketing & lack of timeliness on evolving with the market.
Far too often, local businesses presume that all of their target demographic are fully aware of them, and don’t aggressively promote themselves.
Like someone told me once – WalMart is the biggest retailer in the world, but they still put out a flyer every week in the newspaper, and they still run commercials on TV and ads in print. If they think it’s a good idea, why shouldn’t a small business (restaurant)?
As for the evolution, some restaurants can capitalize on their ‘tradition’, but most cannot, and ALL have to be constantly aware of the need for tweaking their formula for success. Sometimes it is better to change, sometimes not to change, but you must ALWAYS be considering the future.
I said all that to say this – I hate to see that The Library has closed. Of course, I thought they already closed years ago. And that is a shame…
Wonder what they will do with the furnishings? I sure would like to have one of their plates, perhaps the best looking plate I have ever seen.
Carole, met your brother several times and patronized his place often. He was a great character and added a lot to the landscape in Roanoke…he and his top flight merchandise is missed.
Take a bow…Lowell Hill and your amazing staff….
An incredible example of
class without stuffiness..
superb dining and wonderful
food…
THANK YOU..THANK YOU…
All the best..
Evelyn Eastland
I had not been there in ages but was planning a visit in the next few weeks…snooze and lose I guess. I hate to admit it, but I have to agree with crooked road for a change. From what I can tell, most people that are new to Roanoke…(read as “within the last 10 years”)…didn’t even know that it existed.
It’s always sad for a long standing business to have to close their doors. I regret that we were never patrons of The Library for the simple reason that I’ve never heard of it before reading this article today. I wish all the best to the owners and staff.
We had just started going to the Library in the past few years and really enjoyed the continental flare and service. Gregory’s name recognition was phenomenal. The decor was elegant. The service spot on. And the food classic! 33 years is an impressive run for any restaurant. Despite the economy, I give the owner credit for maintaining the high quality for that many years. He should feel proud of that achievement and enjoy a well deserved rest before focusing his attention elsewhere or just enjoying life!
Just wondering how Alexander’s is doing business wise. Any idea?
With food becoming more expensive, the over $100 a meal could easily cost at The Library, did their patrons ever feel a tad guilty of spending what some families could use for 2 or more weeks on their grocery bill. Probably not but as people say “S–t rolls down hill and I guess it just passed The Library.
May all the patrons can donate what they would have spent there to a local foodbank,
I thought Gregory was part owner, but no mention in the articles. Was I wrong?
The Library had no bar. All upscale locations have a bar, wich is what diners now expect. They were probably limited by space.
@David, Mr. Hill left me a voicemail message on Wednesday confirming the closure and making the comments quoted in the article. He did not get back to me yet so I don’t know the exact ownership situation.
@Debbie, I don’t know. I’ll ask.
Not to try to start an argument here, but how do you know the patrons of The Library don’t donate generously, if not to the foodbank, then to other deserving charities? Making statements such as the one in your post doesn’t contribute to charitable feelings from possible donors. Maybe instead of vitriol, use of a pleasant invitation would help your cause. After all, you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar!
@mommaduck, No, I don’t feel a bit bad about what I spend dining out. I work hard for what I have and if I want to enjoy an expensive meal that is just what I am going to do. I already donate a lot of my time and money to worthy causes so no, I will not be donating the money that I would have spent at The Library to a food bank. I will be spending it at another establishment which will not only add to the enjoyment of my life, it will also help keep someone employed and out of the food bank line.
My wife and I drove from Lynchburg many times. The service was the most elegant of any restaurant any where. Lowell and all the staff made you feel so special. We hope you will open another restaurant soon if possible.
I am so disappointed to hear this news. The Library has been our favorite restaurant in Roanoke since we moved here over four years ago. For birthdays and anniversarys the Library has been our restaurant of choice, the one place where one could experience elegant, intimate dining–a throwback to the great restaurants of a half century ago.
Gregory was the consummate host. He always greeted me as “Mr. Kimel” and remembered details from our previous visits. We always felt like we had been invited into his home.
The food was uniformly excellent, but in the end I always chose the Steak Diane. Where else can one find Steak Diane?
The Library will be greatly missed. Roanoke is impoverished by its closing.
This is disappointing news indeed.
Will miss my annual dinner at the Library. I first ate at a Library Restaurant in Greensboro, NC during the mid 70s and then later at the Myrtle Beach location on annual trips there after the Greensboro location closed. I discovered the Roanoke location in the mid 90s and ate with them annually during the early fall when the leaves were changing colors on the parkway. Gregory and I had a common interest in cars and food (I owned a fast food restaurant in Greensboro and have a classic little sports car convertible I always drove on the parkway trip from Fancy Gap to Roanoke).
Hoping the best for Gregory and his Partner.
Without The Library Roanoke has less class – it was the known best hi-end dining spot in SW Va – I worked there briefly in the 1980′s on my way out of town – played ping pong with Lowell 1 nite at my Salem house I shared with Woody Windley and 2 others – Lowell is a great tennis & ping pong player – I now publish a newspaper in Palm Beach where I live – google Palm Beach Sun – it comes up 1st –
I always had a good time in Roanoke – especially when me & some of my pals (Richie Pence, Tom Enders) scored jobs at the opening of the Airport Marriott – carefree days I wish for again – once a Roanoker always a Roanoker – Here’s to you Lowell – now you can enjoy more of that Sweet Virginia breeze!