UPDATED: Norberto’s to close at year’s end
Kevin Jarvis. The Roanoke Times l File photo
UPDATED 3:37 p.m.: I talked to Kevin Jarvis, chef/owner of Norberto’s, about his decision to close. He said it is based on the fact that business has slowed considerably over the past couple of months.
Jarvis, who opened Norberto’s in November 2011, said when he looks back at the books from early this year, he sees Friday and Saturday nights that were fully booked with reservations. But in October and November, those numbers began to decline considerably. Now, he said, he’s getting three or four reservations on those typically busier nights.
“I’ve been racking my brain about it,” he said. “Everybody seems to love the food and says the place looks better” than it did when he bought it. “Everybody seems to think that the portion sizes are good and everything of that nature.”
Jarvis said he wonders if an “overabundance” of restaurants in the Grandin Village area is part of the problem. He also said that serving lunch for a few months, which he stopped doing in August, stretched his resources too thin. Finally, high food prices have been a major concern.
“You can’t pass it all off to the customer, we have to eat some of it,” he said. “You can’t absorb a whole lot because whatever [money] we did have that was put off to the side we have put back into the business.”
Jarvis said he and his wife may decide to open another restaurant someday, but right now he just doesn’t know what the future will bring. He said he’ll likely look for a job at another restaurant. Before buying Norberto’s, Jarvis cooked at Montano’s on Franklin Road in Roanoke for many years.
“We appreciate everybody that supported us through the year that we were here,” Jarvis said. “I’m sorry it has been here for so long and that we are closing the doors as soon as new ownership has taken over, but me and my wife have done our best.”
Please note that Norberto’s will be open through the end of the year, so if you want to dine there before it closes, go soon. END UPDATE
Norberto’s Italian Restaurant, which has been a fixture in the Grandin Village area of Roanoke for about 27 years, will close at the end of this year.
The closure notice is posted on the front of the restaurant, and this status was posted on the Norberto’s Italian Restaurant Facebook page on Nov. 29:
“Well after long consideration and time thinking and trying not to come up with this decision we at Norbertos would like to say thanks for all of your support through out the year that my wife and myself have owned and operated Norbertos. We will be closing down at the first of the year again thank you for all your support. We will be open the month of December look forward to seeing everybody.”
Norberto’s was originally opened by Norberto Silva on Campbell Avenue in downtown Roanoke in the 1980s. In 1992, he moved the restaurant to Memorial Avenue in Grandin Village. When Silva decided to get out of the business, the restaurant was purchased by Kevin Jarvis, who has owned and operated it since November 2011. Jarvis, a former chef for Montano’s International Restaurant on Franklin Road, is also the chef at Norberto’s.
I have attempted to reach Jarvis yesterday and today and hope to hear back from him very soon. When I do, I will see if he wants to talk to me about why they have made this decision and their plans for the future.
December 4, 2012 - 10:01 AM
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what a cope out!! Great place and not fair to close on us!!Shame new owners!!!
I’m starting to get a complex…every restaurant I like closes. Sorry to read this.
Sad. But just don’t tell us the Texas Tavern is giving up, too…without it, I can’t think of a reason to go back to Roanoke.
@ chris…cop out you mean? How is it a cop out when a business owner can’t afford to stay in business? smdh
Cope out? How about COP out. And SHAME? How about don’t be a jerk until you know why they’ve announced WHY?
I mean c’mon, Chris, how is having to close in tough economic times a cop out? Do we KNOW why it’s closing? Perhaps health issues? Operating costs? Issues with the location?
What say we just get in there and SUPPORT OUR LOCAL SMALL BUSINESS so they don’t HAVE to shut their doors, hmmm?
I’m sorry to see them go; I wish them well.
I hope Chris’ comments are sarcasism! Sorry to hear of the closing. The success rate for independent restaurants is an unpredictable journey, if if they are established and undergo managment/ownership changes.`
So sad to see Restaurants failing Going to miss Norberto’s
Quit whining and eat there twice a week. Get your friends to eat there, too. Yeah, your comments say you really love the place. Support it!
This may be old news but Chubbies at Lamplighter Mall has closed.
Heard this sad news Sat. night. The waitress said it was closing because business had been so slow.
We haven’t seen any changes in food or service quality since the new owners took over. Don’t understand. So sorry to see Norberto’s close.
Its Obamacare & Fiscal Cliff’s fault. New Taxes and reduced deductions. Bad for Small business.
I ate there when Norberto owned it and frankly was not impressed. We were one of two tables that were occupied (on what should have been a busy night) and the staff acted as if they could care less if we were there or not.
That left a bad impression on us and we never went back.
I wonder how many others felt the same way?
Perhaps Kevin is suffering for Norberto’s reputation.
so sorry ! we wish them well.
He needs to go on Restaurant Impossible. Maybe they can help uncove the issue as to why the place isn’t getting business. Its gotta be something. OR better yet, lets all convice Noot from Red Jasmine Thai to bring her awesome food to the Grandin Village and get out of Vinton.
Norberto’s has been our favorite place for so many years and we eat there 2-3 times a month. Just wondering where we will go now. We have yet to find a restaurant offering this type of food that can touch Kevin’s dishes. So sad to see Norberto’s leave Grandin Village. We will be frequent guests until the doors are closed.
Good local restaurants in this town are jammed Friday and Saturday nights. If business was falling off, something was up, but it has nothing to do with ACA or the “fiscal cliff”.
Great idea, Sarah! A Thai place in Grandin Village would be awesome!
Not every great cook is also a great businessman.
I hope he lands on his feet at a restaurant where he is happy and can enjoy focusing on what he does best.
Heard a report today on some talk show that people are simply not eating out as much…I agree with a couple of the comments about service and temperature of food to be lacking these days. I’ve never eaten there but will make it a point before it closes… What are the best dishes there?
I guess Kevin’s a “dead man walking”, right Kristen?
My problem with Norbertos was I could never get there when they weren’t closed. If this place were downtown somewhere it would be a big hit as there is very little to chose from.
Grandin Village has right around 12 restaurants/eateries within a less than quarter mile radius. It’s overly saturated so that could be one cause for closing. An Asian themed restaurant is one presence not in that area that might be able to do well there.
I had previously posted about our more recent bad experience there, so honestly, I’m not surprised to hear this news. We used to love Norberto’s as our special occasion restaurant, but were so unimpressed lately that we haven’t been back (much smaller portions, lost reservations, etc.).
I have no idea what you even mean, Michael. By all means, clarify.
cope out cope out cope out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@ E.Duane, there are lots of good dishes there. The last time I went, I had chicken saltimbocca and my husband had a chicken stuffed with spinach. Both were lovely.
Chris? It’s “cop”. They’re allowed to close if they choose to…it’s a free country.
@Susan. I can recommend an outstanding restaurant “Leonore Restaurant”. The food is made fresh and from scratch, and the prices are excellent. It is downtown next to Tap address 128 Campbell ave.
540-904-5559
Check them out at
Leonore Restaurant.com
My wife and I had eaten their separately before we knew each other. But on June 24, 2007 we both met on a blind date and as usual had a great meal and over a three hour conversation! This eventually led to our Marriage on April 4, 2009. We are so saddened by this closing and will miss the restaurant very much, we will plan on dinner their prior to this unfortunate closing!!