2009.06.18
For Lease: Former Fast Freddy's site
Driving by this prominent corner in Salem, it's obvious that the vacant Fast Freddy's restaurant building at West Main and Fourth streets is trying to become something different.
There's a For Lease sign on its tall marquee. Gary Goldacker, owner of Fast Freddy's, is taking on the task of finding a new business to lease the property. This restaurant building sits in front of the site of the demolished West Salem Plaza, which awaits the coming of a big box store. There's no official word on what retailer will arrive there.
Goldacker told me recently that he will not reopen Fast Freddy's. The eatery closed suddenly last year.
"Not enough people liked it," Goldacker said. "It wasn't profitable."
Along with his wife, Amelia, the Goldackers run the Roanoke Bagel Co. on Virginia 419.
Elsewhere in Salem, Hibachi Express now is open at Lakeside Plaza. Read more about it on the So Salem blog.
Freddy's second location, in the old Bear Trap Inn building on Brambleton, remains empty as well. I find it hard to believe someone couldn't take that space and make a real go of it.
Comment by Art Hill — June 18, 2009 @ 10:46 am
"Not enough people liked it," Goldacker said. "It wasn't profitable."
Maybe after Mr. Goldacker bought it and started running it, When the original "Fast Freddy" was the owner the food was great and it was crowded all the time. Sometimes the line was out the door. I used to go there a lot for lunch then, after it changed hands the food wasn't as good and there was no one at the counter that would recognize you and talk to you like the original. I miss both of his restaurants and wherever he is now I wish him well, he always treated myself and my family great.
Comment by Slow Eddie — June 18, 2009 @ 11:48 am
Slow Eddie, ME TOO! The place was awesome!
Comment by Dennis — June 18, 2009 @ 2:35 pm
No only did the food go down hill after the original Fast Freddy, the smell of backed up sewage was enough to make you sick.
Comment by Sharon — June 18, 2009 @ 4:32 pm
I posted this info on Lindsey Nair's blog three days ago. I must have caught it about the day it happened. I hadn't eaten there in years when they stopped having the car thing in the parking lot on Saturday afternoons. Maybe that had something to do with the decline in business as well as the change in owners. They were packed back then. I sure wish I knew what seasoning they put on the fries as it was awesome. Be so long I haven't a clue what it was.
Comment by Mike D — June 18, 2009 @ 4:56 pm
"Not enough people liked it" is he CRAZY?!?! Now I will say I LOVED the original owners (I believe Danny & Terri) but we still supported the other owners when it sold. The specials were great (catfish, salmon, mahi mahi etc...) and if he thought people didn't like it then why not change it up a bit instead of closing?
Comment by shelly — June 18, 2009 @ 5:29 pm
Jenny- Do you know anything about Petticoats and Petite Fours? I notices a for sale/lease sign in the front yard. I hope Salem isn't losing another business!
Comment by Nicole — June 18, 2009 @ 8:25 pm
When it first opened I dined there often. I especially liked their pastas.
The place was always too small, similar to what is happening to some downtown Roanoke eateries, and the business couldn't keep its base from coming back for a variety of reasons.
Comment by Joe — June 19, 2009 @ 9:13 am
Not Enough People Liked It. It Wasn't Profitable.
Hmmm. . . let me see . . . the quality of food and/or customer service needed to improve? More customers means more sales means increase in profits?
Sounds like what was missing most was involved and committed owners, a responsible management team, backed up by well trained employees who understand customer service. A little elbow grease, too (the outside paint needed refreshing and the parking area did smell bad; I often picked up a bad chicken smell while waiting in the drive up line at Sonic for my rush hour, 1/2 price slushie!)
I did hear of one menu item that was well-liked by target customers. Fast Freddy's Dyno Bites chicken nuggets were highly recommended to me by a 5 year old acquaintance :o)
Comment by Terri Wise — June 19, 2009 @ 5:34 pm
went several times, while the car show was there...could never get served, ever. Gave up and went elsewhere...oh well.
Comment by dave — June 21, 2009 @ 2:12 pm
Nicole,
Petticoats and Petit Fours has announced that it's closing.
Lindsey Nair has reported this on her Fridge Magnet blog:
http://blogs.roanoke.com/rtblogs/fridgemagnet/2009/06/16/trio-to-close-bakery-to-open/
Comment by Jenny Kincaid Boone — June 22, 2009 @ 11:35 am
Danny and Terri operated it well. The problem was they forgot to pay taxes!! Remeber that Freddy's Sunset Grill was seized by the government for taxes! The only reason Fast Freddy's survived was that they sold it before that could happen and Henry/Nancy paid their taxes and still operated the business profitably.
Gary is just an idiot!!!
Comment by Big Cheese — July 20, 2009 @ 6:21 am