September 22, 2008News of the dayHey, blog readers. I have spent the day reporting on the closing of the City Market Building in downtown Roanoke. In case you didn't hear, this historic structure that houses 10 restaurants that serve pizza, subs, hamburgers and more closed to the public on Friday. The food businesses are doing extensive cleaning and according to officials, mice were found inside the building. The city said today that these businesses will not reopen until all are properly cleaned and the health department can give the restaurants the go-ahead. City officials don't know when the building will reopen for dining. In the meantime, be prepared to scout out other eateries for dining in downtown Roanoke. Check www.roanoke.com today and tomorrow as more details unfold. Also, on an unrelated subject, but one that is somewhat close to home, read this story about the status of Circuit City, which is based in Richmond. The chief executive officer of the electronics retailer has resigned, as the company initiates a turn- around effort. Circuit City is considering whether to sell the company in the midst of financial troubles and declining business at its stores. There is one Roanoke area Circuit City store, located near Valley View Mall. |
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Comments
[September 22, 2008 10:12 PM]
Mike DWhat is the name of all the vendors in he market building? I would like to look them up on the health departments web sight. Yes they may have a problem but I just don't trust the city on this. The Market building has been neglected has caused many problems. Neglected like something else that was large and is no longer here. That was underhanded too.
On Circuit City it's been a long time since I purchased anything there. They are even more over priced than Best Buy. Have even less helpful staff. Just walk to the car audio department and try to find help if you over 20. Then there has only been one check out open when I have been there. Vowed never to purchase another large item after the TV 6 years ago. Told them when I got it that I did not want the extended warranty. When the original ran out the started calling EVERY SINGLE day to sell me the extended.Even on Sunday. After a month I answered the phone and told them to leave me alone or I was taking the caller ID to a lawyer and getting them for harassment!!
I think the only reason they had my number was I got there credit card for the no interest for a year. Witch would have been paid of in time but they some how didn't get that last payment on the last month of the deal. Hmmm
I no longer shop there to be honest.
[September 23, 2008 2:34 PM]
Karl M.Roanoke would do well to make a visit to Philadelphia and the more than century old historic (and thriving) Reading Terminal Market. [To a lesser extent, Chelsea Market in NYC]; Selling far more than the expected subs, pizza and food court fare we see at our Market Building in Roanoke - it actually IS a market - complete with Amish bakers, butchers, fish mongers, Italian groceries, Spanish groceries, cheese vendors, gourmet and kitchen gear, poultry and fresh locally grown produce and seasonal products - pumpkins to apples to flowers, tomatoes and everything in between.
Point being, having a 'food court' just isn't reason enough to visit (I never go in there, it is dreary) and it's closing might not be such a bad thing.
Roanoke City Market has a great history with street farm vendors selling flowers to produce...so it would make sense (also with a growing downtown residential population) to re-think what the Market Building is used for.
From an income standpoint, your best bet is to turn the upper two floors in a few well-priced lofts and sell them (that income goes into the market below); or restore and open up as professional office lofts...again, that revenue supports the MARKET that could be opened below on the main level. This turns ROA City Market into a true market and takes it many steps further than just being a mall food court without the mall.
[September 23, 2008 8:36 PM]
DebiHaving read the latest news about the mice being EVERYWHERE, including the food preparation counters, I would be very surprised if ANYBODY ever ate there again, no matter how much clean up is done. I know I for one, will never enter the building again. How disgusting and the worst part is that it was allowed to get to that point. A restaurant does not go from immaculate to a Mouse Motel overnight. It obviously has been like this for a LONG time!
[September 24, 2008 10:02 AM]
MeganActually, it has not "obviously" been going on for a long time. Read through prior health inspections (all available on the health department's website) and you'll see no mention of mice and I'm talking about recent inspections and well as older ones. Both the health department and the exterminators have said that the mice have essentially been chased into the building by the recent construction across the street and cooler weather.
In a perfect world all restaurants would be completely sealed as to keep any and all undesirable creatures out. But its not a perfect world and now that the problem has been found the owners, employees and the city are doing everything in their power to fix it.
Fairview Elementary reopened after dealing with a much larger infestation and one of rats rather than mice. If that building is safe for use now, I don't see why it can't be the same for the Market Building.
[September 24, 2008 10:10 AM]
MattFor Mike, if you go to the Datasphere blog, you'll find a link to the VDH site. If you type in 'market' for your search in Roanoke City, you'll get all the vendors.
I would recommend this to everyone, especially Debi, who hasn't taken the time to look beyond the stories. There is no record of a problem at any of the vendors' stalls. Now, honestly, no it didn't just happen overnight. The vendors have told the city about their rodent sightings for years and it hasn't been until recently that they started doing something about it.
As far as the food prep counters go... honestly, I've read through everything. No food preparation surface was contaminated anywhere, though in two cases, hard to reach areas behind food prep locations did have some excreta.
I would simply urge everyone to read beyond the immediate stories, rather than immediately vilifying the vendors.
[September 24, 2008 12:25 PM]
RigbyYeah if you saw the underside of most commercial kitchens (some exceptions however)you'd never wanna eat out again.
Seriously.
I'll gladly support market vendors once they reopen.
[September 24, 2008 2:07 PM]
JennyMatt,
Thanks for mentioning the Datasphere link. Those interested also should read the story in today's newspaper and on www.roanoke.com, which discusses the latest health reports.
[September 24, 2008 4:23 PM]
DebbieI will be going back when they reopen, and Karl I disagree that closing it might not be a bad idea.
It would take away the livelihood of some good people. Downtown workers also need a place to eat and get good food, without breaking their wallets. I agree that it is dreary looking, and definitely needed sprucing up, whether there were mice or not. There is enough space in there, to add other things, like a bakery, meat market etc. w/out getting rid of the vendors already there.
[September 24, 2008 4:57 PM]
Mike DI already knew about the VDH site. Didn't know the names to look them up. But thanks Matt.
Looked at all ten and not one it there anything about mice. Makes you wounder what the city is really up too. Think the art museum opening had a big part in it. The mice thing is an excuse and blown out of proportion. They neglected it just like Victory Stadium. (man that old wound again)
Seven of the vendors have good inspections and just the regular violations that most places get nailed for are listed. They appear to be clean. Now there are three that have many violations and wounder how two of them didn't get shut down before the mice. One if you read the list you would never eat there. They have had the same ones over and over. They alone could be the very cause of the mice. Look them up as Matt said and you will see. Zorba Restaurant seams the worst 2 out of 3 inspections have had 10 or more critical violations. Most are the same. I'm reminded of Grill of the South on that one. They got shut down and never reopened.
Like they say a few bad apples ruin the whole bunch. When and if the market building reopens I will eat at the ones that have had a cleaner history.
[October 1, 2008 2:32 PM]
GregIn the article I just read on Roanoke.com about this, the city Mayor David Bowers compared the closing of the Market Building to 9/11.
Are you kidding me! Even though he didn't mean anything by it, I think the Mayor needs to issue an apology for that comparison.
He was trying to say that something drastic had to happen for changes to be made but I don't think an incident where thousands lost their lives can be compared to an outdated building housing a food court.
[October 1, 2008 3:36 PM]
GregMan you guys are on top of things. I just read the Mayor's apology. Jenny did you call the Mayor after my post?
[October 1, 2008 10:30 PM]
JennyHi, Greg,
No, our city government reporter already was talking with the Mayor. The Mayor apologized for his comments sometime during the day. It's interesting that it coincided with your comment!