December 11, 2007
Fuddruckers has closed
Fuddruckers in Salem has closed. It’s unclear why the eatery known for its large hamburgers has shut its doors.
A spokesperson for Fuddruckers, based in Texas, was unavailable on Monday. Viamac, a company that owned the Western Sizzlin franchises in the Roanoke Valley, also owned the Salem Fuddruckers.
The restaurant opened in 2001 near the intersection of Electric Road and Main Street, at Lakeside Plaza.
According to online records for the Roanoke and Alleghany health districts, Fuddruckers had four health violations in October. They included soiled food contact surfaces in the kitchen, a chemical spray bottle that was unlabeled and certain openings in the kitchen that did not guard against entry of insects and other rodents.
It’s unclear if these violations are related to Fuddruckers' closing. A representative at the health district could not be reached.
Comments
[December 12, 2007 12:07 AM]
roanoke.foundYou'd be hard pressed to find a restaurant or hotel in the Roanoke area that did not have those same violations at one time or another.
Either the Health Inspectors are being extra vigilant, or those are the "throw-aways" for when the inspector has to find something wrong.
I suspect it has more to do with the corporate holdings than it does the health status.
[December 12, 2007 12:44 AM]
MikeI wounder if it has something to do with the company itself. If I'm correct this is the second place they owned that has closed recently. The other was The Steakhouse on 460 that will soon become yet another Mexican restaurant. I just hope the trend doesn't continue and a place I like closes The Great 611. I never ate at The Steakhouse or Fuddruckers'. The first because they closed before I ever got a chance. Fuddruckers' because I never heard anyone talk highly of it. Also call me cheap if you want but I cant see paying over $6 just for a burger. If I'm paying that I'll pay a few more $$ and eat steak.
[December 15, 2007 10:53 AM]
DennisI JUST started eating at Fudd's w/in the past few months, only ate there then on occaission. I usually got the grilled chicken sandwich and fries, and it came to about eight bucks. I have noticed the trend that it's hard to find a decent lunch in a decent place anymore for under $8! And it's $10-11 in a lot of places! There are cheaper meals out there, but "you get what you pay for."
[December 17, 2007 8:52 AM]
Jenny BooneMike, I also have wondered if the owners of the now closed Salem Fuddruckers are trying to get out of restaurant ownership, given that they also closed the local Western Sizzlin locations. I could not reach the ownership group, Viamac, by phone when I tried to call recently. Perhaps more news will develop on this closing soon. Also, as several of you pointed out, the higher price of hamburgers there is notable.
[December 19, 2007 6:47 AM]
MikeIf they owned the Western Sizzlin on Hershburger rd they had wanted to buy and fix up that building. The people that owned the building did not want to sell it and have since torn it down. I don't know if they owned the one in Salem or why it closed. It had "closed for renovations" on the sign for a long time then when it was fixed up and reopened it was T-bone Jack's. The only place left that they own is The Great 611 Steak co. that I know of. Their menu us basically the same as Western Sizzlin. The food and service and food is normally great. They even have a model of the 611 running on a track hanging from the celling.
[March 3, 2008 3:02 AM]
anonymousI worked a Fuddruckers for quite a while. There were 3 main owners of the Western Sizzlin's and Fuddruckers. They spent A LOT of money fixing up the Western Sizzlin in Hershburger after the Health Department shut it down. They also had to temporarily shut down the one on 419 for the same reason. The new strip mall behind Fuddruckers is also owned by the same people. I think money is a big factor in the closing. They also own several other business that are not restaurants. So, to Frank, his father Vic, and to Cass. Good luck.