A Grandin Village mystery
Photo courtesy Bruce Houghton.
Several eagle-eyed readers have contacted me today to note that the ancient Norberto’s mural in Grandin Village is being painted over. As you can see in this photo snapped by reader Bruce Houghton, the wall is being painted candy apple red. Or might that be curry red, or sushi-grade salmon red, or rare steak red? Hmm… what’s going on down there?
At the end of 2012, Norberto’s owner Kevin Jarvis decided to close the Italian restaurant, which had been open under a former owner, Norberto Silva, for more than 25 years. Jarvis said business had slowed considerably in the fourth quarter of the year. He wondered if it had to do with an overabundance of restaurants in Grandin Village, but also mentioned high food costs.
The owner of the building, Richard Bishop, told me today that he doesn’t know what’s going in there next. He said Jarvis has not stopped leasing the space. So maybe the Jarvis family is up to something new there.
I have a call in to Kevin Jarvis and hopefully I will hear back from him soon. But I know a lot of you drive by that spot, and since a bright red wall is pretty hard to miss I wanted you to know I’m already on the case.
January 7, 2013 - 4:30 PM
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The red paint reflects Kevin’s state of mind. He is seeing red,his bottom line was in the red.etc. It is sad to see him go,he is one of the best chef’s in Roanoke. How unfortunate Roanoke did not support this great place to eat. Hopefully,he will stay local and I will get to enjoy his excellent dishes again!
Italian ‘joints’ are always some of the easiest restaurants to make succeed. Unfortunately, this one did not, and at least the owner is removing his logo. Sorry he lost the restaurant, but glad to see that people won’t have to see the sad reminder for months or years on end of the loss.
Someone on the Storefront said there’s a Japanese Steakhouse sign in the window?
Best chef in roanoke. I don’t think so!!! Far from it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
went there and food and service poor. It won’t last!!!