May 19, 2008
Two eateries are closed, for now
It'll be August until you can dine at a popular Japanese steakhouse in Roanoke. And if you’re craving barbecue from a new Salem eatery, keep checking back.
These two area restaurants have shut down temporarily.
Kabuki, a Japanese steak house on Franklin Road, is getting a makeover. The owner is expanding the eatery, adding 4,000 square feet to its left side to create room for a more spacious dining space. Also, he’s replacing the current bar area with a sushi bar.
Significant work already has begun at this restaurant. But from today until late August, the eatery will close to finish up interior renovations, said general manager Atsuhiko Makajima.
Kabuki has a location in Christiansburg, if you're up for a drive to the New River Valley.
On West Main Street in Salem, Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, has closed. But Jeffrey Gruber, a company spokesman, said the restaurant, which is a franchise, has changed ownership. It’s supposed to reopen within the week.
The reason for the ownership change is unclear. Dickey's, a Dallas chain, opened late last year.
Comments
[May 19, 2008 1:58 PM]
deanHopefully Kabuki's food will be better. They have gone down hill from what they use to be. I use to years ago eat there about twice a week, and now its like once every 6 months. I am glad to see updates at the one here in Roanoke. I have eaten at the C-burg location before, the food was great and the staff was friendly.
That location is out of my way, but that's really the only place I eat when I am in the NRV.
[May 19, 2008 5:51 PM]
MikeJenny thanks for updating me on Dickeys BBQ & for all your hard work.
[June 6, 2008 12:20 PM]
ScornedJenny, Jeffery Gruber is a lair. The restaurant has no plans of re-opening. Nor does it have any plans of paying its employees for the last week they worked. They are a shady organization that should be avoided at all cost.
-A Scorned Ex-Employee
[June 7, 2008 10:39 PM]
JennyScorned, Do you know why Dickey's closed with no plans of reopening?
[June 8, 2008 12:01 AM]
Karl SchoewSalem is a very funny, cliquish town. Several chain restaurants that do well elsewhere have failed to crack that nut. Popeye's Chicken, Fazoli's, Krystal Hamburgers, Fuddrucker's and now Dickey's.
[June 8, 2008 12:20 AM]
Other JohnI drove past it a couple of days ago and it was still closed with the van out front...paper was covering the windows of the store though. It really doesn't look like they plan on re-oipening, and the paper over the widnows doesn't make sense for an ownership change. Weird indeed.
[June 9, 2008 12:34 PM]
Mike DWow!! if they don't reopen that has to be the fastest closure ever. They were open what two months. Was it the food? Was it the prices? Hennery's seams to be doing well. As for the other places any place that charges a small fortune of a burger should fail. I can buy fresh ground hamburger at IGA and make a half dozen of their burger for less than the price of two of theirs.
[June 10, 2008 5:45 PM]
MikeThis must be the quickest failure in history. They were open what 2 maybe 3 months? Did anyone eat there. Was it their food, service, or the prices? They opened then closed so quick that I never got the chance to eat there.
[June 11, 2008 11:31 AM]
KaraMy family ate at Dickey's a couple of months ago and thought the food was good. The service was great too. I am willing to go back to any restaurant where the people working are nice to my 3 year old!!
[June 11, 2008 1:12 PM]
LoriI checked the Dickey's website for location listings the other day, and Salem was noticeably absent. The closest location was in Lynchburg. Of course, perhaps the Salem location was never on the website because it wasn't open long enough!!
[June 15, 2008 5:09 PM]
CariWe were planning to go to Dickey's BBQ today for Father's Day. So sad to see they are gone.
We had eaten there several times. The food and service were great. They had free dill pickles in a jar and free soft serve ice cream. We thought the prices were appropriate for the quality of the food. It also appeared to be very clean.
We were shocked that it had closed so soon.
[June 23, 2008 11:39 AM]
ScornedDickey's closed because of financial reasons. Too many bills now enough business. Bankruptcy was filed.
We were open from December 4th till May 17th.
Have been working adamantly to obtain lost pay for 17 employees. The corporate office refuses to take part in compensating employees for time worked.
On principle alone the company is shady. Granted obviously I have some harsh feelings on this issue. But, being jacked out of an 800 paycheck will do that to a person. Any opinions or help on this would be greatly appreciated!
[June 23, 2008 9:06 PM]
JennyScorned, Are you a former employee at the Salem Dickey's? And who filed for bankruptcy? The franchisee?
[June 25, 2008 8:09 AM]
ScornedFormer manager.
The franchisee.