Updated: Baja Bistro owner cites sluggish economy for closing
Updated Feb. 19
More information has come forth about the closing of Baja Bistro.
Jeff Wendell, who owns the building where the restaurant leased space, said he evicted the business for defaulting on rent.
Online court records show that Wendell’s limited liability company, Ischia Villa, filed a judgement against Baja Bistro owner Gregory Caldwell in October. Last month Caldwell was ordered to pay $8,625 plus 6 percent interest from the date of the judgement.
Caldwell said that he decided to leave the property because he had problems with Wendell and the property.
“There were rent issues and lease issues from day one,” he said.
End update
The buzz on the blog this week has been over the closing of Baja Bistro Fresh Mex Grille in southwest Roanoke County.
The restaurant’s last day open was Sunday.
Owner Greg Caldwell said Tuesday that business was too slow because consumers are still holding back.
“It’s the same story you’re seeing from everyone,” Caldwell said. “Its just a tough environment out there. We just decided to pull the plug on it.”
Caldwell said he is looking into the possibility of reopening somewhere where rent is less expensive, but he stressed that he doesn’t have any firm plans.
Baja Bistro first opened in Salem on West Main Street. It moved to the Shops at West Village in 2010 when Caldwell bought the assets and lease from the space’s previous occupant, the Daily Grind.
January 30, 2013 - 5:00 AM
i’m not buying the fact that these establishments continue to blame the economy for their lack of business. the bistro is closing because the food was terrible!
That building has now lost two tenants, as I think Studio 419 also moved.
I don’t know the place, but the economy IS to blame for many small businesses closing or cutting back. I’m speaking from personal experience.
Sorry. The economy was not the problem. The problem is that your establishment is Baja Bistro, NOT Baja Fresh.
The economy hits places with low quality or poor reputations first…that’s why of the places I’ve seen that have closed recently that I’ve had experience with, I’ve not been surprised by their closing.
Of course they did! What else could be the problem. Walk into the Brambleton Deli and see how the economy is over there, maybe.
I didn’t care for them when they were in Salem, but I thought their quality improved when they moved down there. Unfortunately, it also put them too far away for me to visit regularly. I’m sure the competition from the new Chipotle didn’t help either.
I thought the food was decent, on par with Chipotle.
Haha…you can see the liberals here…
Oh it’s not the economy.
Uh-huh. Right.
Agreed, the food at Baja Bistro was terrible! They needed Robert Irvine from the show Restaurant Impossible in a BIG way!
how awful! that was one of my favorite places!
Sorry to see it go. I preferred it to Chipotle.
I really enjoyed the food, BUT, once Chipotle opened at Towers, it was 15 minutes closer to me.
To all the doubters out there, I hate to break it to you, but the economy *IS* to blame. In these difficult times, I, and a lot of other people, simply can’t afford to spend our money on food that isn’t as good as at least one other place in town simply because they need our money more. Everybody has to make sacrifices in an economy that is as difficult as our economy is right now, what with its difficulties and all. For many people, those sacrifices have taken the form of only going to restaurants where the food is actually good, and where our $9 steak burrito will actually contain something recognizable as steak rather than something that bears a closer resemblance to Steak-Umm (see the Jim Gaffigan routine for clarification on that). It’s a sad truth, but it’s just a difficult fact of our difficult economy… thanks, Obama!
Exactly, Stephen A and Bryan. Of all the closings, maybe one could be blamed for the economy, and I would say it was The Library due to the cost and special occasion nature of the restaurant. Baja Bistro was similar to Chipotle which has steady business because it is superior in taste. People didn’t frequent this establishment because it wasn’t very good. Out with the old and in with new.
I think the daily crowd @ Chipotle disproves the sluggish economy. Consumers will spend $7-10 for lunch if the value/healthy choice mix is there with great taste.
So sorry to hear that they have closed. We loved it!
Notice he said something about opening where the rent is less expensive. Anyone looked into commercial real estate lately? It’s outrageous. ESPECIALLY in southwest county right on 419 where the traffic count is high. And I’d bet there isn’t enough margin in their food to cover the enormous rent. Anyone care to venture his rent payment?
#1- Baja always had plenty of customers whenever I went there. Their food was very good. I believe their overhead was just too high, rent at West Village must be steep.
Soo sorry to hear this, we loved eating there !Im surprised, u were always busy when we were there! Hope u reopen!
As much commercial real estate as is standing empty on 419, the rules of supply and demand should be driving down rents.
Last weekend we went out for dinner and had to hit 3 places before we found one with a less than hour wait. One thing that the population around here is NOT skimping on is eating out.
Sorry Amanda, it look’s as though Casey’s bloggers have jumped on your blog to spread their doom and gloom theories. It’s never the operator’s fault, always the economy, or better yet, the president! Food service is probably one of the hardest business’s to maitain profitability. You have to have a product and location that keeps people coming back for more.
Obamna dun took my Baja Burrito! Daggum you, Obamna!
Wait, I’m liberal? Thanks for the heads up Derek!
I am so sad to see Baja Bistro close. We went there last night for dinner and my 12 year old was so bummed. My kids and I have eaten there many many times since they moved to 419, and will truly miss it. We were always welcomed with a smile, the food was always wonderful, and it was super clean! I hope to see them reopen soon!
Regarding building rents…this has been something I noticed with a couple different franchises lately. Several have shut down their locations due to building owners nearly doubling the rents on buildings. In Fairlawn, that’s what drove Goodwill to constructing their own building and forced Autozone out, and also part of what contributed to Burger King closing, and possibly KFC. It’s also what claimed the texas Steakhouse in Christiansburg several years back, according to the former manager when we spoke with her.
You’re welcome Bryan. You Libs need some help in matters of thought most of the time
. Must be all the Barbara Streisand you all listen to.
Zero’s subs is closing.
Another empty storefront in the affluent section of Roanoke….Hey Let’s Tear Down the Strip Mall and Build an Art Museum!
Do we know if the owners told the employees BEFORE they closed? Seems that lately the owners just close up & everyone finds out about it when they show up at the front door.
we had lunch there almost every Saturday. we are sad to see them go.
I’ve heard about the economy and high rent. How come across the parking lot, Annie Moore’s seems to be doing okay. Their dinners cost more than Baja. Maybe it has something to do with quality. The only time I ate at Baja it was in Salem. The prep area, in view of the customers, did not seem to be very clean. The food was only so-so but did not match the cost. I gave them another chance a few weeks later and got more of the same. Never went back.
Please eat at Pho Viet Nam! What an excellent restaurant and friendly owners! It’s sad to walk into an empty restaurant. Roanoker’s need to WAKE UP and enjoy the great non-chain places before they are all gone!!!!
Nice people but food not that great.
I live less than 1 mile from baja , I never ate there as I always went to El Rodeo. The one on the hill next to the cave spring golds gym. I do how ever visit annie mores alot which is next door to the old baja bistro.
Still waiting on my Boston Market, Cheese cake factory , PF changs , and others to move into the cave spring area which has the most spending power. But nothing seems to come ………. Although I’m glad to see 5 guys at tanglewood and the new southpeak development taking place. I do agree that the US recovery is really weak but Roanoke has always had a slow growth rate. You guys can talk about Obama making it more expensive for business’es to expand bc of healthcare costs “EX. at the 50th worker mark more costs are taken out of the bottomline bc of insurance” or that energy prices are more expensive bc of his EPA “which will get way worse” higher taxes , more spending , regulations in the finance and energy sector and others etc etc.. But any part of Roanoke is far from being a short pump. Bottomline is that you have to be really good in a market that has very little growth. Since 1982 when the railroad left town Roanoke has had very little growth to maybe 1-2% tops. That means lower spending power ! If the region can make some big hires “which wont happen” maybe in the thousands range. Roanoke would see tanglewood razed and rebuilt as a shiny new town center ” apts, condos , office , retail” or an IMAX downtown to spur more restuarants in the region. But with Obama in office I see military spending going way down which will affect hampton roads and NOVA greatly. Which means state budget cuts in Roanoke from Richmond bc of hampton raods/ NOVA. Face it guys Roanoke is called a brain drain for a reason and thats why super main stream restaurants wont come to Roanoke un less maybe VT starts pumping more money in Roanoke or something else big happens. In the end though local joints need to be “great” or they will fail. Sooooooo some people have made this political, yes Obama is one of the top 5 worst presidents, but Roanoke just sucks more. It’s simple , supply and demand. You have to be great in Roanoke to survive.
While the economy may be bad in some ways – take a look at the restaurants around town. At Valley View – every weekend there is an hour or so wait at most restaurants. Chipotle, Firehouse, Five Guys, Panera etc are all busy during lunch. If it was that bad – Chick Fil A would not be swarmed with cars from Noon-8PM.
The economy cannot be blamed for everything especially when the guy next door serving the same product is doing well. These places that close are not adapting to the market and they are providing a product that is not desired or not good. In some cases, perhaps this one, overhead is too high and location of the business is poor. Name recognition also plays a huge roll. As much as everyone screams “local” most people find comfort in knowing the name and what they are getting.
@Just Joe: I am sorry to hear that. Wonder if a building permit for a new sub shop in that strip center has anything to do with it? I am working on getting more on that. I’ll call Zero’s today.
@3rd Fred: I don’t know for sure, but it sounds like many customers knew Sunday was their last day open, judging by some of the comments on the previous thread, which leads me to believe the employees knew.
” You have to be great in Roanoke to survive.”
Yes, definitely blame Obama for our dearth of mediocrity. Oh the horror. I wants my Cheesecake Factory and Obama won’t lets me have it! Shame.
Joey, you’re right about Pho Vietnam. I wish it would move in closer to town but we get out there pretty regularly….the pho is great and even my Vietnamese hairdresser thinks it’s very good. We just need to talk them up as much as we can so people heat about it!
“National name” is a big deal in restaurants – not just in Roanoke. When we lived in the Houston area, there was a restaurant row of national chains, all of which would be packed on a Friday night with a wait. A stone’s throw away, there was a local Italian restaurant with superior food to the chain (in a rather plain strip center) where you could walk right in on a Friday night.
Spiny – I really hope you are being sarcastic…..
I am very sorry for the owner(s) and employees of Baja Bistro. I agree w/ many of the folks above, one can’t really fully blame the economy for closing. As has been stated above, just go to the Deli, Macado’s, a mall restaurant, etc and you’ll see TONS of people eating out. You have to make it right, price it right, and have good service. If you don’t then you probably aren’t going to make it, bad economy or not. We ate at Baja a couple of times when they were in Salem, I wasn’t a fan. The food is supposed to be Mexican but it just wasn’t spicy. I called it “Nursing Home Mexican!” We’re not Chipotle fans, either, for the same reason. On another note, Joey and Kristen, you go guys and girls! Pho Vietnam is AWESOME! I love the Pho there and the spring rolls are to die for! And everything I’ve had is great! Awesome people who are passionate about their food and do it right! Our son eats there almost every day, and I’m there usually 2-3 times a week! Like Joey and Kristen, I HIGHLY recommend Pho Vietnam!
Uhhhhh I see Dan’s blog runneth over. I tend to stay out of this kind of conversation on other blogs outside of the political ones. Unfortunately in our American Idol politics society every conversation seems to go back to GOP good dems bad or vise versa.
First I liked Baja but the last 3 times I went the food has lost some of its quality . With that said I hope they can find a new location with rent that allows them to operate.
Now to this part….
5 worst? So He some how ranks with or around: Harding, Hoover, Tyler, Carter, and the worst James Buchanan. I could go on but that the 5 that come to mind. Of course you already know this without his terms in office over and no kind of historical look. Funny they did the same thing to Eisenhower when he was in and right after he left office.
Next the economy the red herring of everything. Never mind that the housing market and big ticket spending started falling in 2005, or the economy took a nose dive in the summer/fall of 2008 under the watch of a different President giving us the worst economy since the great depression. Some how Obama is to blame for everything.
Maybe just maybe Baja couldn’t be competitive and still make a profit. I mean no business has ever failed when the economy was strong. So trolls go away and let this blog not be a place to spread your rancor, both sides. Want to know why America is the way it is right now look in the mirror. End rant, sorry Amanda.
I think this is a bummer, because I thought the food was pretty good and always seemed like there were a decent number of people there when I visited. At one point, I posted on Facebook a top 10 list of ways Baja Bistro is better than Chipostle (And, no, I have no done a comparison with Alexandro’s.) Therefore, as an honorarium, here it is:
(1) Free chips
(2) Punch card for free entree every 10
(3) Fish
(4) Beer
(5) Margaritas
(6) Line not out the door by 11am
(7) Kids’ meals
(8) Kids Eat Free Sun, Mon and Tues nights
(9) Mexican hot sauce (who on earth puts Tabasco – which I otherwise love – on Mexican food?)
(10) Everything not flavored with chipolte
ZERO SUBS TERRIBLE AND IN A TERRIBLE LOCATION NEXT TO IHOP/SHOOTINGS/GANGS. SURPRISED IT TOOK THIS LONG TO CLOSE!
Apparently nobody except Meghan noticed, so I should probably point out that my previous post was dripping, oozing, even hemorrhaging with SARCASM! Read it carefully.
RobStutes, I would say that here in Roanoke, if you try on a Friday or Saturday night to walk into Lucky, Local Roots, Metro, Billys, Blue Five, the Taphouse, 1906 Alehouse, Rock Fish, River and Rail, Beamers, and a bunch of others I’ve probably missed – ALL local – unless you make a reservation you’re waiting an hour or eating at 5pm. I like that here our chains are reserved for VV and the strip malls, and our downtowns are full of locally owned spots.
Service is key if you want to survive. Chick Fil A is a prime example, their menu items are pricey for fast food but their customer service is top notch, at least at the stand alone locations that Bob Childress owns here in Roanoke. Always packed at lunch and dinner. They are also closed on Sunday’s operating one day less a week then everyone else, looks like they have a pretty sound business model to be able to do that . They could be an example for other local businesses on how to do it right and keep customers coming back day after day.
First they came for the Tudors biscuits, and I did not speak out – because I am not a biscuit eater.
Then they came for the greasy eggs at Ernies, and I did not speak out – because I am not a greasy egg eater.
Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak for me – cuz Obamna dun took my daggum Bojo Burritos!!!
Spiny, I started to respond then read it again when you had just posted it. When I got to the “sacrifices” being only able to afford food that’s actually good, I caught on.
Zero’s subs has closed. I went by there today and the tables and chairs are gone, as is some of the equipment. I’m told by the strip center’s owner that Penn Station East Coast Subs will open there in a few months. The building owner is working on getting me in touch with franchisee, so I hope to have more to report soon.
I get my pho fix from Pho Saigon. Friendly staff, spotless interior, fresh ingredients. I highly recommend it. As someone else pointed out, give these small places your business or they will soon be gone, too.
penn station is a chain like the others but the one I went to in Greensboro was great. I dont make it there for lunch, if i am on that side of town I go to PHO, cuban island or wonju.
I was sorry to hear about the closing, I had already planned to eat their tomorrow. I’ve been telling everyone I know about the place. Hope you find a new location soon, I personally would love to see you open something on Peters Creek Rd., we are in need of something besides pizza over here.
Penn Station is really good. been to one in Greensboro. Sorry to see Zeros go though. I liked the food and the staff was very friendly.
Pho Viet Nam is amazing! I lived in Viet Nam for two years teaching, and the food at this restaurant is better than many in Viet Nam!!
Ok, let me get this straight; he sited the “economy” as his reason? Really, now? You are kidding, right? Here’s what I’d love to see:
“I’m closing; I had to, my food stunk.”
Come on. Ever heard of anyone blaming their own mismanagement and poor quality for their reasons? Ever? In the end, if your business fails you have to stand up and take SOME responsibility, regardless of the business conditions. The business conditions were there, at all times, when you opened, and you should have known, and should have been prepared for them, when you entered the industry.
Grow up.
3 of GPsays list include free food. While these type of “deals” are successful at other establishments it’s still giving away free product.
Also, when is having a line out the door at 11am a bad thing for business? Seems like that’s a good problem to have. A problem that Baja Bistro didn’t have as you pointed out.
The social injustice crowd sure gets mad when a business closing blames it on the economy.
While the owner may blame the slow economy, in this case (as in several other recent closings), the reason is probably the poor quality of the food served. We went a couple of times when it first opened but it the food was lousy, the dining room was loud with buzzing coolers, and the service was mediocre. We never went back. These folks clearly had no idea how to run a restaurant, so the surprise is only that they lasted as long as they did.
The more comments I read on here, the less I like Roanoke and the people in it.
Gee, Kathy..was the Country Cookin’ buffet busy that day?
Sorry to see Baja close. Started to eat there when they were in Salem and followed to Electric Road.
We visited there about 4-5 times every month. The staff was friendly
and the food was a good value with a wide selection.
People that dont know anything about operating a business dont have a clue
what “blame the economy” means. Rent,salaries,increasing taxes, rising insurances, business licenses,workers- comp,food, electricity,water, equipment, maintenance, more taxes and licenses, workers not showing up for their shift…………..maybe you should try operating a small business!!!
Reopen Greg!!
Charlie
Jeez skibum, a little mexican place closed down. What do you want people to do…open a vein over it? It’s too bad but if there’s a market for that sort of food, something else will pop up to take its place.
charlie, please explain how any of the factors contributing to the closure will be different in another location.
Kristen, my comment was directed at the scourge of naysayers that seem to decry ANYTHING in Roanoke. You’d think some of these people never ate since apparently every eatery in Roanoke was beneath them.
I am sorry, Charlie, but yes; I did run a small business.
Rent, insurance, salaries, taxes, business licenses, utilities, supplies: these ALWAYS increase in cost. Always. My point still stands; if you enter the business you have to be prepared for these conditions.
Any business thrives because it provides it’s customers with what they want, when the want it, how the want it and where they want it. Period. Don’t believe that? How does Starbucks get away with charging $4.50 for a glorified cup of coffee? The customer wants it. Period.
Again; management needs to grow up and take some responsibility.