Arzu Mediterranean not long for this world
Photo courtesy Poe & Cronk Real Estate Group
The building that houses Arzu Mediterranean Restaurant on Williamson Road in downtown Roanoke is under contract two years after it originally went up for sale, according to agent Peter Ostaseski with Poe & Cronk Real Estate Group.
Halil Demirci, whose father owns the restaurant and the building, confirmed the sale on Friday and said the restaurant will soon close. Neither he nor Ostaseski disclosed the identity of the purchaser. The sale has not yet closed.
The building was originally listed at $900,000 but had been reduced to $799,000 by the time former business writer Jenny Kincaid Boone wrote this blog entry. The latest listing was for $649,000.
The Demirci family has a long history in the restaurant business in Roanoke. In the late 1980s, Demirci’s father, Ihsan Demirci, opened Mediterranean Continental Cuisine in the space on Campbell Avenue that now houses Alejandro’s Mexican Grill. In 1996, he opened Arzu (named after his daughter) just around the corner, and about a year later he closed the Campbell Avenue restaurant in order to focus on both Turkish and French cuisine at Arzu.
“My parents are getting older, they want to spend more time in Turkey and I felt I didn’t want to do it without them,” said Halil Demirci, who works at the restaurant. He added that newer restaurants in downtown Roanoke have lured customers away and said the past two years have been very slow.
“Being for sale for two years, we have noticed a big drop in our private parties,” he said. “No one is going to call and make a party reservation six months in advance.”
Halil Demirci said he isn’t sure whether the new owner will operate a restaurant in the building, but said the man did tell him he wasn’t in a big rush to take over so Arzu could stay open for another couple of months. Nevertheless, Demirci said, they will probably close as soon as the sale closes.
That means anyone who is a fan of Arzu and wants to dine there one last time had better get over there soon. Otherwise, the chance might be gone.
October 26, 2012 - 4:27 PM
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Lindsey i tried to find a way to email you…however i couldnt. My question is unrelated to this article. i am looking for a great place in roanoke to find good chicken wings. i frequent a place in columbia, sc called the public house. the best wings i have ever had. i want wings unlike the wings u get at the chain restaurants, and different choices of flavors and heat. any ideas???
I heard NY Pizza bought it.
Judging by the number of people in the restaurant whenever I walk by, I think fans of Arzu are few and far between.
My husband and I just ate our Anniversary dinner at DOWNTOWN SOUL, in DOWNTOWN VINTON,VA. It waswonderful!
The oxtails,rice and beans were perfect. The collard greens were just the way your Momma would cook ‘em. The warm, spicy heat on the entree was just right. Mac and cheese wasn’t smushy.
Staff, very friendly and attentive. Everything was clean, including the bathroom. They did not have the table napkins locked in a vault, but were easily available.
I will eat there again. Highly recommend it. FINALLY SOMETHING DIFFERENT in Vinton, besides fast food
and Anthonys.
Rhonda,
Allsports Care has my favorite wings in town. They have 3 locations
It will be a sad day indeed when they close! Has been a great restaurant with great food and service for a long time. Not as frequent a customer as I used to be, but I will definitely try to eat there a couple of more times before this happens.
If NY Pizza bought it that would be great news.
I always liked Arzu, but I loved the Mediterranean in the old space. I felt like the quality of food declined a bit when they changed to Arzu, and I never liked the atmosphere as much (both the food and atmosphere were still good, just not as good). I did enjoy going to Arzu maybe once a year though and will be sad to see it go.
Rhonda,
Of all the wing places in SW Virginia, I hear people rave about Allsports Cafe most often. They have locations in Roanoke and Salem and are getting ready to open a new location in Blacksburg.
I also hear good things about Sharkey’s and PK’s in Blacksburg.
We talked about wings on the blog a couple of years ago. Mainly, we discussed whether wings are better made at home or ordered at a restaurant. But here’s the resulting column if you want to read it: http://www.roanoke.com/columnists/nair/wb/134293
God I hope NY Pizza did not buy it. The food there is terrible!! They need to stay in Vinton!!