Ernie’s owner talks of selling
Stephanie Klein-Davis | The Roanoke Times
UPDATE: Here is the full version of this story, which ran in today’s (Wed., Jan. 15) newspaper. END UPDATE.
Retail business reporter Amanda Codispoti and I are working on a story about Ernie’s Bar and Grill in downtown Roanoke. The owner has confirmed that she is currently talking to a potential buyer for the restaurant, which has been open for more than 25 years.
Amanda has more details here on her blog, The Storefront.
If someone buys Ernie’s and changes it completely, would you be bummed out? What would you miss the most?
January 15, 2013 - 1:26 PM
RSS feed 
Though of late they have been on and off in flavor–I would most definitely miss the potato cakes. I head down there for breakfast on my occasional Fridays off to satiate my craving.
I would miss going there for the occasional ham biscuit early in the morning, on my way to work. Otherwise, I never ate there much.
When Ernie was still there we used to call in for burgers and potato cakes. The last couple of times we’ve been there we’ve had their reubens and taco salads, both were good. Sorry to see another one go down the tubes.
Looking forward to the new Lebanese place downtown.
Jack Brown’s will have lunch and dinner, plus there are other places to eat downtown. I love Ernie’s but welcome JB’s. An Ernie’s in the Market Building serving a variety of biscuits all day with delivery would be great. Think about it Aimee. Thank you for your splendid service over the years.
Nice quote in the article about Ernie’s on the homepage from the guy who comes across sounding like a pervert. He basically says he won’t come downtown if Ernie’s is gone but he’ll go wherever the waitresses go.
If Ernie’s does close, I hope folks don’t direct their frustration toward the wrong people. This is the case of an owner choosing to sell to someone else – not another restaurant closing due to lack of business.
Blue Ridge Foodie, I think you misinterpreted that quote. Mr. Barfield is simply saying that he gets great service there because they all know him and what he likes to eat. I think saying “girls” is just an endearing term for the waitresses he has come to know from eating there so long.
Regarding your second paragraph, I would agree.
Off topic, but for those that use immersion blenders, let’s be careful out there.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/16/dining/immersion-blenders-can-be-a-danger-in-disguise.html?ref=dining
Great warning, Debbie. Thanks for posting. I usually unplug any device that blends or chops before I start poking around the blades/paddle/whisk, but I cannot say for sure that I’ve done it every time.
Always, always unplug any appliance before you start poking around in it, even if it doesn’t have blades. I’ll never forget my dad shouting at me for trying to pry a piece of toast out of the toaster with a knife.
Nobody wants to be cut OR electrocuted!
@Kristen, am I forgetting something or did you just sneak a good tip in on that comment? Which Lebanese place?
Can’t wait to hear about a new Lebanese place. As for Ernies, I wasn’t terribly impressed with their food/decor/service. I’d always thought downtown could use a good burger/beer joint. The deco building on Campbell, with the glass block front, next to the bead store has the right kind of feel, but I believe it’s a christian reading room.
I hope “the new Lebanese place” IS going to open, and that it’s the same person who opened/ran Hummus House!
The paper printed Ernie’s potato cake recipe a few years ago. Is there any way I could get a copy?
Dolores, thanks for asking. I went looking and found the recipe on our archives. I think more people would like to see the recipe, so I posted it as a new blog entry where it would be more visible.