2009.03.24
"Cursed" restaurant locations
Tony Pope Bistro & Wine Bar
The closure of Tony Pope's Bistro on Crystal Spring Avenue in South Roanoke has once again stirred up the issue of whether some restaurant locations are "cursed," or never able to maintain a successful business for very long. The big, white two-story house where Pope's Bistro was located has housed a long line of restaurants, from The Meeting House to Eric's to The White House to Spoon on the Avenue.
And now, a little more than one year after it opened, Tony Pope's is moving out. Pope says he will reopen his restaurant in another location very soon, adding that the Crystal Spring building was "too much overhead." Maybe that's been the problem for other restaurateurs there, too. Of course, all kinds of factors, not just location, can impact the success of a restaurant.
At any rate, our former business reporter, Christina Rogers, did a story in 2007 about such "cursed" restaurant locations. If you're interested in reading it, here's the link:
Can you think of any locations that are not mentioned in Christina's story?
The old Bear Trap Inn/Fast Freddy's location on Brambleton Ave. has never had anything stay for too long.
Comment by Dylan — March 24, 2009 @ 1:13 pm
You just never know. Growing up in Charlottesville, there was one location I knew as the "Happy Clam" based on an early tenant. It was a total death-spot for many, many years, killing business after business. But eventually someone (the Flaming Wok) moved in and stayed for several years; last time I checked it was still there. As the article suggests, it just takes the right business to overcome the inherent weaknesses of a location.
Comment by Mark — March 24, 2009 @ 1:34 pm
I can think of two and they are in Vinton. The place at one end of the convenience store on the corner of w.Va and 2nd street. Nothing has stayed since Georges BBQ left, though the latest place seams to be hanging in there. The other place is behind the new drug store at the back of the building. It is located at E Cleavland ave and S Maple st. The last place that was there wasn't open long enough for me to even try. The first place that was there was the best. They had great food and friendly owners. No mater what that woman that works for Vinton said. I was told by the people that opened it after them they had to close because the wife of the owner became severely ill.
They old Malarkey's on 460 has been closed for years and nothing has moved in. Man I miss their lunch buffet.
Comment by Mike D — March 24, 2009 @ 2:03 pm
The latest version of whatever is going in on Campbell ave where the Orange Dog recently bombed at is another 'cursed' location. A 'picnic' type menu, yeah that's going to go over real well....... the curse continues
Comment by Downtown Worker — March 24, 2009 @ 2:50 pm
There's a place in Blacksburg like this. It's in the public parking lot right behind Sharkey's on Main St. I think it's something like VT Playhouse now but before that it was some sushi and wing place and before that Nerve. I think I've been at least 4 or 5 businesses go through there since I moved to the area in 04.
Comment by Bailie — March 24, 2009 @ 2:50 pm
Oh, and in Salem there are two at the same intersection! The tiny grill next to Hammerhead Hardware, and the spot in the Apple Market building, both at Apperson/Colorado and Riverland Drive.
The grill space hasn't kept a tenant since it was Ernie's. That Ernie retired; I have no idea if there's any connection to the Ernie's downtown? Anyway, the last time I drove by there it was vacant again.
The other spot was originally carved out as a Blimpie, and went through many sub-shop and grill incarnations before finally settling on the current Benadaz. I'm a bit ashamed to admit I haven't been there, but it's managed to hang on for more than a year or two now so I assume it's good food. More importantly, I think it's less of a direct competitor to the well-established Peppers sub shop across the street.
Comment by Mark — March 24, 2009 @ 3:25 pm
I also was going to mention the old Bear Trap, Big Lick, First Freddy's location. Luckily, Big Lick made it in there for a while, but it is so sad to see that building sitting there going to waste for such a long, long time!!
Comment by Pam — March 24, 2009 @ 4:06 pm
Yes, the old Bear Trap is a cool building. I ate there when it was Freddy's Sunset Grill. It is pretty darn big, though. Maybe people are intimidated by all that space.
Downtown Worker, our business reporter, Jenny Kincaid Boone, recently reported on the former Orange Dog location. Here's what she wrote:
"Thomas Gardner is starting over on Campbell Avenue in downtown Roanoke.
Two years ago, Gardner opened Orange Dog, a well-known hot dog eatery, in a small space on the west end of Campbell Avenue. But last year, he closed Orange Dog because of the high demands of running two restaurants, one at Towers Shopping Center in Roanoke and the other downtown. Gardner was operating both locations while also working full time for a nonprofit that offered payment assistance to homeowners.
Eventually, Star City Cafe & Coffee opened at the 135 W. Campbell Ave. space, but it closed earlier this month. Now, Gardner, who no is longer working for his former employer, is trying again. He's making plans to open a picnic-themed restaurant at the downtown storefront where he rents space.
Midtown Picnic Club will serve picnic fare, including fried chicken, country fried steak, baked beans and macaroni and cheese.
Gardner described the food selection as 'the kind of stuff that you like eating, but you don't want to spend time to make.'
Based on Orange Dog's former business trends, Gardner found that most downtown lunch patrons order take-out meals. His new restaurant will open for lunch and dinner and offer delivery.
Gardner, who still owns Orange Dog at Towers, also plans to hold drawings for upscale picnic baskets for his downtown customers.
Look for Midtown Picnic Club to open early next month".
Comment by Lindsey Nair — March 24, 2009 @ 4:26 pm
The Fast Freddie's location in Salem! One of the highest traffic count intersections in the city, I'm sure. Can't remember what all was in that bldg., but it was built as a Popeye's if I remember correctly. Anyway, until Fast Freddie's came in, the location bombed! Fast Freddie's did really well until closing a few months ago for a very strange reason, as reported by Jenny Boone. I think they are on the third owner there. Guess they are not going to reopen at this point, it's been months.
Mark, the place you mention in the Apple Market bldg. in S. Salem HAS seen a lot of places come and go! It was the original Pepper's location, (before they moved across the st.) then Blimpie, then another sub shop, then Blue's Cafe, now Benadaz. I have eaten at Benadaz, for breakfast, the food was pretty good.
There are two small places right in downtown Salem, one on the corner at College and Main, the other two doors east of there. On the corner for a long time was Claudia's Blues Cafe, but since Claudia quit it's gone through tenant after tenant. Currently it's The Corner Bar and Grill. Two doors east of there is a tiny little space that was, I think, the original Mac and Bob's. It's been Coach B's, and many things since, most recently Yummy's, which moved just down the street. So now it's empty again, I believe. And that's all I can think of at the moment!
Comment by Dennis — March 24, 2009 @ 6:06 pm
There's a spot on the corner of East Main Street in Salem, across from the old courthouse that changes hands repeatedly. It's been a half dozen different restaurants at least.
Comment by Debbie — March 24, 2009 @ 6:18 pm
Dang, Dennis! You have an encyclopedic memory of Salem restaurants. Doesn't surprise me, though. I remember Claudia's Blues Cafe, too. That's what it was when I went to Roanoke College. I have always regretted not trying it out. Everyone always warned that it was so tiny and hard to find a seat in on weekends.
Comment by Lindsey Nair — March 24, 2009 @ 8:19 pm
Even though the Fast Freddy's location is in a high-traffic zone, I don't think it's conveniently accessible enough for lunch customers. There's actually *too much* traffic there for people to get in and out quickly: cross-traffic makes it hard to get into from the South, while the proximity to that major intersection makes it difficult to leave going West, or sometimes even East.
Comment by Mark — March 25, 2009 @ 9:35 am
The TGIFriday's location used to be a cursed location. It used to be a Chi-Chi's and then a seafood place.
Comment by Jason — March 25, 2009 @ 10:17 am
Most of these locations have parking issues. People are lazy, and if a place has insufficient parking, they will go elsewhere, unless the food is really special.
Comment by Janet Doohan — March 25, 2009 @ 10:23 am
The first stall on the left inside the City Market Building was definitely cursed. So much so, they actually tore it out a few years ago.
Comment by Ralph — March 25, 2009 @ 10:27 am
Debbie, the place you are talking about is the one I mentioned at the corner of College and Main, that used to be Claudia's Blues Cafe. Lindsey, sorry you didn't make it in there, really good cajun food and other seafood as well. GOOD blues music playing all the time. It is small and she had a ton of "regulars," but we usually managed to get a seat when we went. It was a fun place.
Mark, you are right, especially now. Didn't used to be too bad leaving Fast Freddie's when the mall was there and open. You could go south on 4th or east on main from one of the mall entrances. Or you could go through the mall parking lot to Bruffey St. and catch the light there to go west on Main St. But, sadly, that is no longer the case.
Comment by Dennis — March 25, 2009 @ 10:53 am
The place Bailie mentioned above in Blacksburg is truly cursed. It was something before the Nerv that didnt last, then it was the Nerv, then it was some country food dining place for like 3 months, and now its some place that serves wings and sushi...such a weird combination. It's in a good location, but I never see advertising for it. We laugh when we drive by it because it seems it is a new place every time we drive by it.
Comment by Bill — March 25, 2009 @ 10:55 am
Like Bailie said, that place in Blacksburg must be cursed. In the two years I've lived there, it's been three different spots. It seems like a good spot, but maybe because it's behind Main St. people can't find it? It was a southern food spot once and I can recall someone asking me directions to get to it. She said she'd been up and down Main St. and couldn't find it.
Comment by Anna — March 25, 2009 @ 11:18 am
The former location of the Cellar on Brambleton Ave. I can't remember all the places that have come and gone from there.
Comment by RMac — March 25, 2009 @ 11:38 am
Good one, RMac. My husband can name all the restaurants that have occupied that space. He was a regular at the Bramble Inn way back when. I also know it was the Burger Joint and Magnolia's or something like that. And then the Cellar, now nothing.
Comment by Lindsey Nair — March 25, 2009 @ 1:30 pm
Linds - it was actually at first the Brambleton Deli before the Burger Joint. yeah - I was a regular too....
Comment by Amanda DeHaven — March 25, 2009 @ 1:49 pm
Ah, yes, the original BD location. That's right!
Comment by Lindsey Nair — March 25, 2009 @ 2:10 pm
Actually it was the Bramble Inn for years before the Deli,and they served a mean (bar type} hamburger.
Comment by Howard — March 25, 2009 @ 3:48 pm
well, the old bear trap has a parking issue as in the small building on the property owns the parking lot and whomever opens that resturaunt has to LEASE it from him.... issue!
As far as the Brambleton Deli, Burger joint, cellar, prior to all that the bramble inn occupied it for years. A little rough but always a good place for entertainment and good bunch of bikers!
Comment by D — March 25, 2009 @ 6:39 pm
How about some places that were built, opened up, closed and nothing else has been in? I can think of a few:
The Winn Dixie on Plantation rd. They were there for only a year and a half and the place has sat empty for nearly 10(?) years.
The Rite Ade in Vinton on Hardy rd. About the same as WD
And how long has Kristal Burger been closed now?
Comment by Mike D — March 26, 2009 @ 2:14 am
I don't know what all has been in the old Bramble Inn, but I do know that the Brambleton BBQ was there before The Burger Joint. Then I think Blue something. The BBQ and Burger Joint were owned by the same people who own the Brambleton Deli. (And now Annie Moore's Pub) The Deli still serves the same BBQ, which is very good by the way. Love that South Carolina sauce! I think "The Cellar" was a seperate business in the same bldg's downstairs, or basement?
Comment by Dennis — March 26, 2009 @ 2:56 pm
Dennis, the Cellar was both a restaurant upstairs and a club downstairs. The food was okay but not worth going out of the way for.
Comment by RMac — March 26, 2009 @ 4:57 pm
I passed by Fast Freddie's today and there was some activity going on inside. There was two cars parked in the parking lot and there were some lights on inside. Not reopened though. The chairs were still upside down on the tables. Nothing on the reader board either.
Comment by Mike D — April 2, 2009 @ 12:38 am
Dennis, it was Blue Magnolia(s).
Comment by Pam — April 3, 2009 @ 9:43 am
Another one gone at a curse location I mentioned earlier. Cajun Connection in Vintion has closed. I passed by yesterday and they were clearing it out. I Only ate there twice. It was good but not great and the prices were decent. They were dead each time I went there. The last time I stopped in was about a month ago. I basically decided not to return after the second time. They didn't seam to be clean. It was basically a bar.
Comment by Mike D — May 25, 2009 @ 4:49 pm
We went in there one time to eat lunch, Mike. They were having a darts tournament and the only place to sit was at the bar, and there was so much smoke in there I could hardly see my husband. So we left and decided to come back at another time. Never got the opportunity, I guess.
Comment by Lindsey Nair — May 26, 2009 @ 9:48 am