Comments on: Tudor’s is the latest, but will it be the last?

By: Nelson Mensch

Nelson Mensch — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 16:02:41 +0000

With all of the BAD HEALTH – FAST FOOD BIG CORPORATE (Franchise) Restaurants across the country; it is tough for the independent restaurant to survive; especially as food prices, utility prices continue to increase.

I would like to meet with the proprietors of these closed restaurants to introduce a NEW CONCEPT IN FOOD SERVICE THAT NO ONE IS DOING.

This will be a GREAT FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITY – NOT DEPENDENT ON PURCHASING HIGH COSTS FOOD – TOTALLY ORGANIC – WE CONTROL THE PRICES AS WE GROW THE FOOD ON SITE.

Tudor’s; Library; Lil Chef; Hooters; or others who are restauranteurs – PLEASE GIVE ME 20 MINUTES TO INTRODUCE THE NEW HEALTHY FOOD RESTAURANT BUSINESS.

Question – Does ROANOKE HAVE A FRANCHISE FAST FOOD BUSINESS THAT STARTED HERE? WE CAN DO IT AND PUT ROANOKE ON THE MAP OF THE NEXT SUCCESS STORY IN FRANCHISE FAST HEALTHY FOOD.

I invite serious people with the wherewithal to contact me.

Use my e-mail to contact me: Nmensch862@aol.com I do not want to be flooded by phone calls from unqualified people. SERIOUS ONLY…

Nelson Mensch – Fish and Veggie Express – Friends and Family Foods.

By: JT

JT — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 14:21:11 +0000

Good News for DOWNTOWN SOUL fans: They have re-opened at 515 2nd Street in Vinton as of this morning! I have heard a lot of good things about the food while they were at their former Downtown Roanoke location and am looking forward to trying out their new location in Vinton!

By: Michael Carroll

Michael Carroll — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 17:56:45 +0000

I can’t explain how sad I am sad to hear this news. I wish I still lived in Roanoke so I could have eaten there just one more time.
I worked there for Louis for a couple of years while I was in college back in the mid 80’s.
It was a great experience in my life when I was younger. They made it a fun place to work!
And you won’t meet a more standup guy!
I wish him and his family the best in future!

By: Kristen

Kristen — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 14:59:30 +0000

Doug, the cupcake places are still going and thriving. I think it’s a combination of walk-in business and mass party orders. I’m surprised by happy for the owners.

As for the yogurt, I think we’ve reached mass saturation at this point.

By: vickie

vickie — Sun, 09 Sep 2012 20:34:23 +0000

I have to agree with Mr. Tudor, there are too many restaurants here in the ROA area to support the population and the economy. Its a shame, but when you read the marketplace blog, its only about restaurants, and not actual business. may of my other posters in this blog sum it up better, but Bill nailed it how Roanoke thrives on mediocrity. its depressing.

By: Doug Pirahna

Doug Pirahna — Sun, 09 Sep 2012 17:26:00 +0000

I think part of the problem affecting the established places in Roanoke is how Roanokers seem to love their trendy food places. Remember a year or so ago when gourmet cupcakes were all the rage? People were lining up in droves to buy a $3 cupcake, now that seems to have died off and has been replaced with frogurt which has people lining up out the doors to shop there. Course in a year or so frogurt will be replaced by something else and the cycle will continue.
What does this mean for the local places?
2 things:
1 – people spending their $$ on the trendy stuff are paying a lot for a little bit of food, leaving less to spend at other places, including the locally owned ones
2 – unless the local spots become trendy with the “hip crowd” nothing will change.

Doug

By: Thomas Dannel

Thomas Dannel — Sun, 09 Sep 2012 04:55:53 +0000

You will be dearly missed , this feels like a death in the family , I ordered 8 mountaineers at a time when I came in or had them delivered , I hope you & your staff have success in your new ventures ! I hope to see things turn around and you get another location that has parking and that has good flow to get you back up and running ! I haven’t been there in a while because I live in Bedford & I am Ill ! Wishing You & Your Family the best Louis ! You & Your Family are in my Thought’s & Prayer’s ! You Will Be Missed ! I agree with Cricket Maiden on a biscuit stand or something of the sort , You start it , We will be there ! Thank You For the Years of the Family business that you ran and we were able to enjoy !

By: barbara

barbara — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 18:19:21 +0000

The Hometown Family Rest. on Brambleton Ave is now open. Can you give us some news about this new place.

By: Art Hill

Art Hill — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 06:14:37 +0000

El Establo on Williamson Road appears to be closed.

By: Bill

Bill — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 01:23:04 +0000

So many things to say….Tudors is awesome. I’m sad to see them go. Though downtown is changing, for the better. It’s just going to take time. Sadly Tudors will get lost in the transition.

Regarding the number of restaurants, yes, there are too many. BUT, there are very few good ones. Which is why the chains succeed so well here. They bring products, systems and service. Which is where so many locally owned fall short. Often the local restaurants are dirty, the food sub par and the service is horrible.

I’m from Roanoke. I own a business in Roanoke. I love Roanoke. However Roanoke accepts mediocrity too easily. We should really expect more when we go out to eat. And we should hold the establishment accountable for our experience by choosing whether or not to support them.

I’d say a good 30-40% of the restaurants in Roanoke could close, and no one would miss them. Sorry, but it’s true.