Cafe Madrid to open in Michele's on Main sitePosted Aug19, 2008 at 09:49 AM Michele’s on Main has closed its doors to make room for a new business venture: Cafe Madrid. Michael Wright and his family recently bought the business from Michele Carder, who owned and operated the restaurant out of the old Salem Post office for almost five years. Carder is also relinquishing her catering service of nine years. "It’s been great. I’ve had amazing customers and tons of compliments," Carder said. "With me running the restaurant day and night, I feel like I’ve just missed out on a lot of stuff with my kids." And the restaurant isn’t being sold to Wright with any regrets, either. "I don’t think it could have been sold to a better person, personally," she added. Photo: The Wrights. From left, Trevor, 16, Michael, Susan and Dylan, 12. Wright started out like most chefs do. He was a dishwasher at age 14, and 29 years later, he’s proud to begin his first solo business venture. Once a chef in exotic places like Trinidad, Wright and his family moved back to the States (he’s originally from California), and inadvertently, to Roanoke, ten years ago. There was really nowhere he could be a chef around the valley again, said Wright, so he delved into restaurant management. He was most recently a managing partner at Carrabas Italian Grill. "I just got tired of the business aspect," he said. So his wife Susan will be taking up the business end as Café Madrid’s manager, and he’ll be in the kitchen. "Realistically, every country in the Mediterranean controlled Spain … for thousands of years, so they’ve got lots of influences," Wright said. The menu is exclusively Spanish: think Mediterranean meets a little bit of French, English, and Moor. "The menu’s not going to be like anything else in town," he said. Tentatively, the restaurant is slated to open August 19. Cafe Madrid is honoring the catering services that Michele’s on Main previously booked. -- Miranda Adkins Update posted August 21 -- opening date changed to August 26. Click here for details. |
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Welcome to The Notebook, the community gathering place for news and tidbits from So Salem, by community journalist Miranda Adkins (that's Miranda on the left). You'll be able to find the most up-to-date news, events and stories in Salem, Glenvar and western Roanoke County here at this blog. And please join in! You can share your comments, stories, links and ideas here, too. This is your community conversation. .....Advertisement.....
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Comments
[August 29, 2008 12:50 PM]
LynneCafe Madrid is open and the food is excellent! Hubby and I dined there last night and tried the Seafood Paella for 2--very good with the warm bread and olive oil. The complimentary imported olives were delicious. Can't wait to go back with friends!