2008.04.28
Steve's slides out, AJ's moves in
AJ’s will take the spot of Steve’s Famous Hot Dogs on Brandon Avenue after this long-time hot dog restaurant closes on Wednesday. The owner of Steve’s, Andrew Eunice, is retiring from the Roanoke hot dog restaurant that was founded in 1973 in Salem.
Cari and Joe Roragen bought the business, and this Thursday, they’ll open its doors with a similar menu. Just don’t expect to order Steve’s well-known chili. The Roragens purchased the business, but they don’t have the rights to everything, including the Steve’s name and its chili recipe.
Cari Roragen told me today that they’ll serve Steve’s menu of hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken and fish sandwiches and other lunch and dinner fare. By this summer, they hope to incorporate some new tastes with a to-go breakfast menu, appealing largely to customers who use the drive-through. They’ll also add some lighter foods for lunch and dinner, such as wraps and salads.
Joe Roragen, who will be in the charge of the daily operation, brings some restaurant management experience to AJ’s, which the couple named after their two children, Annaliese and Jacob. He’s most recently been a manager at Texas Roadhouse in Christiansburg, and he also has worked at Outback Steakhouse.
Cari Roragen said it was time to put her husband’s skills “ into something that was ours.”
Best wishes to Mr and Mrs Roragen. Another new entrepenuer starts. My best wishes to them.
Comment by Jonathan Brown — April 29, 2008 @ 7:10 am
I've driven by Steve's a thousand times, but have never stopped in to try one of his chilidogs. Are they any good?
Comment by Rich — April 29, 2008 @ 8:33 am
I carry happy memmories of eating Steve's hot dogs throughout most of my life! My first words was hot dog and my first hotdog with my Grand father was at Steve's! I miss him greatly and I would give just about anything for a Steve's chilidog again! Thanks Steve's for all the great memmories!
Comment by Marie — April 30, 2008 @ 8:34 am
Let's see. There was Steves Hot Dogs on Brandon, and a couple of blocks up was the Roanoke Weiner Stand. Guess which one was packed at lunchtime?
Comment by Judi Melcher — May 16, 2008 @ 3:35 pm
Has anyone eaten there yet? I drive by ever day on my way in to work and again on the way home and there is hardly ever anyone there. Maybe I just pass at the wrong time but it's doesn't look good.
Comment by Mike D — July 6, 2008 @ 1:51 pm
I'm not a 100% sure on this yet but I think AJ's might be closed. Now it is a holiday week so they may just be closed this week. On my way into work this morning I noticed that the letters were gone off the reader board out front and the open sign was off. But someone was inside as the lights were on. On my way home The lights inside were off too and no one was there. We will see next week if everything is still the same.
Comment by Mike D — November 25, 2008 @ 4:54 pm
Hi, Mike D,
Thanks for passing along this observation about AJ's. I'll check it out.
Comment by Jenny — November 25, 2008 @ 6:09 pm
Well I guess I jumped the gun. When I passed today everything was normal. Sure looked like they closed with the letters on the reader board gone and all. My bad. Unless you find they changed hands. But what really makes it strange is what is on the sign today was what was on the sign (reader board) before, far as I recall.
Comment by Mike D — November 26, 2008 @ 4:59 pm