This Veterans Day, numerous restaurants are offering deals for those who have served our country.

Treat yourself during Roanoke's Restaurant Week. Bring your family, friends and your appetite to any of Roanoke's downtown restaurants participating for the week long food event.

On Tuesday evening, Donnie D’s Bagels and Deli announced a new Roanoke location.

Noodles & Company officials have announced an opening date for their first Lynchburg location.

The new barbeque joint is offering big flavor in Roanoke.

It’s a day people in the Star City have been waiting for years, if not decades. Chili’s held its grand opening on Monday.

The Texas-style barbeque joint is located where Joe Goodpies used to be.

Benny Soldato’s is one step closer to bringing its massive 28-inch pizzas to Bedford.

Friday, Jan. 20, kicks off Roanoke’s Restaurant Week – a chance to support local businesses while also getting in on some deals.

The restaurant will be open for dine-in and drive-thru services starting on August 29

Customers were met with a sign on the restaurants door saying its last day of operation would be on Saturday, August 6.

In honor of Monday being National Barbecue Day, here is an explainer on what the four regions of barbecue is in the U.S.

If you’re anything like me, you love to travel. And after being inside for more than two years, I am absolutely ready to get back out there and visit some of my favorite cities.

Here's some great news for pizza lovers!

The month-long campaign will end with the Day of Giving on Mar. 30, when local restaurants will donate 100% of the day’s sales.

A new restaurant found across the country will open later this year in the Hill City.

A new restaurant found across the country is planning to open in Roanoke this April.

Looking to try a new restaurant? Starting next week, you’ll be able to enjoy great food at even better prices!

Restaurant Week is your chance to experience Downtown’s extensive mix of lunch and dinner options.

Roanoke’s tastiest week is nearly here!

A popular dessert destination is coming to Lynchburg.

The wait is over.

When it comes to popular destinations for food lovers, Bath County is a surprising choice.

Whether it’s money lost or staffing shortages, many restaurants in Southside continue to see challenges

IHOP is ringing in its 63rd anniversary with a sweet deal for pancake-lovers across the nation.

For the seventh year in a row, Chick-fil-A is the reigning champ for the highest-ranked fast-food chain in America, according to the American Customer Satisfaction Index.

In a figurative sense, this definitely isn’t a book to judge by its cover, because when you pull up, there’s no way it looks to be on the outside what it really is on the inside.

Restaurants and marinas at Smith Mountain Lake are ready for the summer rush to kick off Memorial Day weekend.

Lynchburg’s Golden Corral has reopened with a fresh new look.

If you need to satisfy your sweet tooth, you can now indulge at Rookie’s! It’s a new shop in downtown Roanoke on Jefferson Street next to the Patrick Henry apartments.

Ralph Northam signed a bill that will eliminate single-use plastic at state agencies and public colleges and universities by 2025. This comes after he signed a bill banning all food vendors from using Styrofoam starting July 1, 2025. Some Lynchburg businesses are already ahead of the curve. “We knew that a lot of our recipients were actually microwaving the Styrofoam,” said Tracey Dixon, executive director of Lynchburg Daily Bread. She said the bigger issue was disposing the containers; so, for the past year, they switched to mineral-based containers.

CAMPBELL COUNTY, Va. – Time is running out for some Virginia restaurant owners to apply for COVID-19 relief through DoorDash. The company’s offering 125 grants statewide, in the amount of $3,500 each. Nina Rezai, economic development manager for Campbell County, is one of many leaders in our area encouraging restaurant owners to sign up. “[The grants are] for businesses that have fewer than 50 employees and do less than $3 million in gross annual revenue. She adds if you’re not eligible, Campbell County still has $800,000 in CARES reimbursement funding to assist all small businesses.

ROANOKE, Va. – Tanglewood Mall is getting a delicious upgrade in 2022. Officials announced Wednesday that four new restaurants and a new dentistry will be making their way to Electric Road starting this year. Among those businesses are Chipotle, Panda Express, Blaze Pizza, Jersey Mike’s and Aspen Dental. Two new buildings, which will be home to those fives businesses, will be constructed along Electric Road in front of the new Carilion Children’s, which is where the former JC Penney was located. Blackwater Resources said construction will begin March 2021, and tenants will begin opening these new businesses at the start of 2022.

ROANOKE, Va. – Love shopping and dining in downtown Roanoke? You’ll soon be able to double your money with a gift card incentive program from Downtown Roanoke Inc. Starting Wednesday at 8 a.m., if you buy a $25 Downtown Roanoke Gift Card, you’ll receive a bonus $25 gift certificate to spend at 51 participating restaurants and shops. The promotion is an effort to help businesses during slower months that are already suffering because of the pandemic. Below is a list of where the gift cards and gift certificates can be redeemed:Retail:310 Rosemont - 312 Market StArtsy June- 209 Market StreetAzar Jewelry & Estate Sales - 32 Market SqBitterSweet Boutique - 307 Market St SEBook No Further - 112 Market St.

LYNCHBURG, Va. – The popular pizza chain Mellow Mushroom is now open in Lynchburg! The new pizza joint on Greenview Drive includes neon artwork, indoor and outdoor seating and offers both curbside pickup and delivery. Brit Campbell, the principal owner of the new location, said it took four years to make this happen. You can see the Charlie Chaplin quote on the wall, ‘a day without laughter is a day wasted.’ So, we just wanted to create something fun and exciting for people to come in an enjoy,” said Campbell. Below is a map of where the new restaurant is located:

ROANOKE, Va. – At least two local restaurant owners are facing backlash for attending President Trump’s rally in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday. Sarah Davis is one of those hundreds of people who commented on Jon Bernard’s personal Facebook page. Bernard posted on the restaurant’s Facebook page that it would be closed, and shared on his personal page, which is public, that he was excited to attend the rally. He temporarily pulled the restaurant’s Facebook page as well. Bernard provided this statement to 10 News:“We attended a D.C. rally on Wednesday that turned into a riot.

LYNCHBURG, Va. – Restaurants in Lynchburg are coping with the COVID-19 restrictions by adjusting the outdoor dining experience during the winter months. Henderson said capacity may be limited inside, but they basically have a full restaurant thanks to winterizing the outdoor space. Of course today’s beautiful, but we’ve seen a big drop with the weather,” Burgess said. The Office of Economic Development & Tourism is using CARES funding to purchase 50 heaters or reimburse owners for ones they bought. They also plan on accepting applications again starting Monday to help reimburse owner for heaters they purchased.

Lynchburg’s Economic Development and Tourism department launched a ‘Winterization’ campaign. City officials purchased 50 heaters to give to qualifying restaurants to make outdoor dining feasible during the upcoming winter months. Lynchburg City Council has allocated a portion of the grant funding provided to the city through the federal CARES Act to provide heaters, or reimbursement of up to $1,000 for heaters already purchased, to local businesses with outdoor dining areas. “You can either request up to four heaters for your restaurant or, if you’ve already purchased heaters, we will reimburse those costs up to $1,000. For those seeking reimbursement, equipment must have been purchased after March 1 and must be for the purpose of extending outdoor dining season.

ROANOKE, Va. – Grab your passport because Saturday kicks off an exciting week along Roanoke’s Williamson Road. From Nov. 14 to Nov. 21, eat (either dine-in or takeout) at one of 15 participating restaurants and you could win either a $100 gift certificate or a $500 airline travel voucher. One person will win a $500 airline travel gift voucher, courtesy of the Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport. You can put your business card in the container each time you visit a participating restaurant. At the end of the week, one card will be drawn from all those collected and the winner will be notified by phone/email.

VINTON, Va. – Two homestyle restaurants in the Roanoke Valley served up their last meals this weekend before they shut their doors due to COVID-19. Jerry’s Restaurant in Vinton closed on Sunday and will remain shuttered until the spring. Manager Lisa Payne said the restaurant is temporarily shutting its doors due to a lack of space, not a lack of customers. Nearly all of Country Cookin’s remaining locations sold out of food by the end of Saturday. While Country Cookin restaurants in the immediate area could not serve food on Sunday, customers filed into Jerry’s before they closed.

CATAWBA, Va. – There’s been an outpouring of support for a Roanoke Valley icon as they announce an indefinite closure. Customers have flocked to The Homeplace restaurant for one last meal. It's certainly busy at The Homeplace Restaurant tonight! Earlier this week The Homeplace announced its signature “pack 'em in” family-style eating doesn’t work in a pandemic. “We had right at 400 Thursday night,” Wingate said.

While some Country Cookin restaurants have already closed, the company announced on Friday that Sunday will be the last day for all of its restaurants. We are sad to announce our last day of business at all locations will be Sunday, October 18th. We pray for health, safety, and a prosperous 2021 for all. Country CookinThe comfort food chain was founded in 1981 and offered 13 different locations, most of which were along the Interstate 81 corridor. Christiansburg - Open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.Culpeper - Open 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.mLexington - Open 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.Staunton - Open 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.Troutville - Open 11 a.m. to 7p.m.

VINTON, Va. – Another local restaurant is preparing to close its doors with the hopes of reopening next year. Jerry’s Family Restaurant on Washington Avenue in Vinton announced Friday that it’s final day of 2020 will be Sunday. As cold weather arrives, the restaurant said it can only accommodate eight tables at a time, which cuts its normal business by 66%. The restaurant’s last day open this year will be Sunday and it’s aiming to reopen in March 2021. Jerry’s announcement follows that of The Homeplace Restaurant in Catawba, which will also close after Sunday.

ROANOKE, Va – A popular restaurant in downtown Roanoke reopened its doors to the public for the first time in seven months on Wednesday. Beamer’s 25 on Salem Avenue closed because of the coronavirus pandemic earlier this year, but they’re back and opened with a few new food options. Along with the classic menu items, new options like milkshakes, truffle fries, and specialty burgers will also be available for restaurantgoers to sink their teeth in. Management says they are happy to see most of their staff members return. Of course, some others choose to move on to other things, but again, we’re just happy to have our doors open and making milkshakes for all of Roanoke,” Regional Manager Jojo Soprano said.

Phones are ringing off the hook at The Homeplace Restaurant in Catawba. "Again, we don’t take it lightly.”Wingate said when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, small businesses across the country took a huge hit and The Homeplace was no exception. With the current social distancing and health restrictions in place, the restaurant just can’t afford to stay open. “Maybe when the restrictions are lifted and we can get our restaurant back at a better capacity, we are looking, you know, possibly, possibly, to reopen," said Wingate. The Homeplace Restaurant in Catawba shared an update on Facebook Monday night with news that the last day of business this year will be on Sunday.

The advertiser paid a fee to promote this sponsored article and may have influenced or authored the content. The views expressed in this article are those of the advertiser and do not necessarily reflect those of this site or affiliated companies. RADFORD, Va. – During any other lunch hour, the parking lot of Hank’s Drive-In in Radford would be packed with hungry customers. “It’s been a good place, and he made it a good place,” said customer Ronald Combs. “Hank’s been a major staple in all of our lives,” said Shenna Viers, Hank’s niece and the current owner.

SALEM, Va. – A popular seafood restaurant in Salem is closing its doors after 16 years. Capt’n Paul’s Seafood announced on Wednesday that its last day in business will be Oct. 17. I just... Posted by Capt'n Paul's Seafood on Wednesday, September 30, 2020In a statement, the restaurant’s owner said the decision was not made by a lack of business, but because times have changed. He said it was getting increasingly difficult to get the quality of products that meets his standards at an affordable price. The owner, Andrew Skelton, is a Virginia Tech alum who took ownership of the restaurant in January 2004 with help from his family.

ROANOKE, Va. – With fall and winter approaching, restaurants that have been relying on outdoor dining since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic are getting creative to keep their customers happy as temperatures drop. Tuco’s Taqueria Garaje in Roanoke is also preparing for the colder months by focusing more on carry out and catering orders. Tourism leaders with Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge said they are doing everything they can to bring in more visitors and boost revenue in the area. Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge is working with local businesses across the Roanoke Valley to make sure tourists feel safe if they choose to visit. Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge has a reopening guide on their website.

RAPHINE, Va. – If you’re driving down Interstate 81, you can now grab some wings and a burger at a truck stop in Raphine. Quaker Steak & Lube opened at White’s Travel Center on Wednesday. People can enjoy casual-dining menu items including wings, burgers and sandwiches as well as beer, wine and cocktails. We’re excited to announce the opening of our newest location in Raphine, Virginia! Stop by soon to see the new restaurant and pick your future favorites from our huge selection of irresistible steaks, wings, brews and more!

ROANOKE, Va. – Not even a global health crisis could crumble the grand opening ceremony for a new Roanoke breakfast spot. On Thursday, Mayor Sherman Lea cut the ribbon outside of Crumbles to celebrate the business that, like many, has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. The restaurant opened right as the pandemic hit, which made it hard to recruit loyal customers with their dining room closed and everyone off the streets. 🌯🥓🍳🧀 Starting this Friday 18th Posted by Crumbles Store on Wednesday, September 16, 2020The restaurant is located on Kirk Avenue in downtown Roanoke. The dining room is now open, although seating is limited and tables are spread out to keep everyone socially distant.

ROANOKE, Va. – Roanoke is getting a new restaurant. The former O’Charley’s on Valley View Boulevard will be transformed into a Crab Du Jour. Right now, there is only one Crab Du Jour in all of Virginia and it’s on Wards Road in Lynchburg. Other than Roanoke, new restaurants are planned in 35 other locations, including four others in Norfolk, Charlottesville, Henrico and Richmond. While the Roanoke location has a Facebook page, which was created on Aug. 31, there’s no mention of when its grand opening will be.

ROANOKE, Va. – It’s National Hispanic Heritage Month and one Roanoke couple is serving up tasty treats while proving that the community is stronger together. When Kat Pascal and her husband, Jimmy Delgado, opened Farmburguesa in Vinton two years ago, they wanted to bring a little taste of their Colombian heritage to the Roanoke Valley. National Hispanic Heritage Month runs from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15. and celebrates the importance of Hispanic and Latin Americans culture. Delgado and Pascal hope to show their kids and future generations they can be proud of their heritage too. “That makes me feel really proud.”“It means a lot to us to be able to serve our community and serve the Hispanic community, in particular," said Pascal.

How does a double meat breakfast with double mimosas sound? Fans of Cracker Barrel will soon have the option to pair booze with their meals as the chain plans to permanently add alcohol to the menu at hundreds of locations, according to multiple reports. Cracker Barrel will add beer, wine and mimosas to the menu for the first time in its 51-year history, CNN has reported. The chain tested out alcohol at 100 locations before the coronavirus pandemic, and the response was overwhelmingly possible. The chain told CNN that the drink options will be added at 600 locations nationwide by the end of the fiscal year.

DANVILLE, Va. – A popular Danville restaurant is closing its doors after over four decades in the restaurant business. Mayflower Seafood Restaurant officials announced Saturday they are closing the business to retire and make memories with their growing family. This announcement comes after the restaurant has spent 32 years in Danville and 45 years in the restaurant business. In just four hours after the restaurant posted its goodbye, there were over 1,500 shares of the post and over 230 comments. Here is the Mayflower Seafood Restaurant’s full statement:

BLACKSBURG, Va. – There’s a new opportunity to help struggling Blacksburg businesses while supporting Virginia Tech’s dining needs. The kitchen is hot at Marco and Luca in Blacksburg, but the business is not. With fewer customers coming to restaurants these days, the restaurants are now going to them. And in a college town like Blacksburg, that means coming to Virginia Tech’s campus. “Give us more business and help us to survive in town,” said Chen.

SALEM, Va. – Mac and Bob’s Restaurant in Salem was in recovery mode Tuesday after a fire in their restaurant Monday morning. Co-owner Bob Rotanz said a structural engineer took a look at the damage and said it’s not as bad as it could have been. The fire came just days after the restaurant had to close due to several employees testing positive for COVID-19. Even through all the pitfalls the restaurant has seen lately, Rotanz said the one thing that always keeps them going is their customers. I can’t tell you how many text messages I got, ’Hang in there, Bob,’ ‘You guys can do it,’ ‘We’re supporting you,’ ‘Love you guys.’ That keeps us going, it really does,” said Rotanz.

SALEM, Va. A beloved Salem restaurant is temporarily closing its doors now that five employees have tested positive for COVID-19. As 10 News previously reported, Mac and Bobs announced earlier this week that four employees tested positive. However, the fifth person who tested positive for COVID-19 is not part of that social circle. None of the back of house employees tested positive, according to restaurant management. Unfortunately, a fifth employee has tested positive that is not in the same social circles as the other four employees.

SALEM, Va. – Mac & Bob’s Restaurant in Salem will be closed Tuesday night for cleaning after four employees tested positive for COVID-19. In a video shared with customers Tuesday night, owner Bob Rotanz explained that SERVPRO will be coming in to deep clean the restaurant, adhering to CDC requirements for cleaning and also using EPA-approved disinfectants. Rotanz said they’re working with the Virginia Department of Health to ensure the safety of customers and staff. Mac & Bob’s will reopen Wednesday reopen with normal hours starting at 11 a.m.

A local restaurant and sports bar will close later this week to mourn the loss of one of its own. Kenneth Atkins, founder and owner of AllSports Cafe, died recently, restaurant management announced on Monday night. The Roanoke and Salem AllSports Cafe locations will be closed on Friday so employees can attend the funeral services and pay their respects, according to the restaurant. Both locations will resume their normal hours on Saturday at 11 a.m.

ROANOKE, Va. – Who needs a pup cup when you can get nuggets for free? The Bonsack Chick-fil-A will give your dog a treat when you bring them through the drive-thru during its Dog Days of Summer event on Wednesday, August 26. If you bring your furry friend along, you get one free 6-count nugget and a Chick-fil-A bandana. The event will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will continue while supplies last.

ROANOKE, Va. A brand-new shop specializing in Hawaiian ice and island-flavored ice cream is now open in Roanokes Wasena neighborhood. Hang 10 is holding its grand opening on Tuesday from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.GRAND OPENING!! We are so excited to announce our opening day is this Tuesday, August 18th, from 12pm-9pm. If youre not in the mood for an icy treat, they also sell Dole soft serve in flavors like pineapple, mango, lemon, orange, raspberry, lime and cherry. Moving forward it will be open Tuesday to Sunday from noon to 9 p.m.

SHAWSVILLE, Va. – Tucked away off Route 460 in Shawsville sits Hale’s Restaurant. The family-run business opened in 1967 and it’s where Michael Roupe, a Shawsville local, got his first job at 13 years old. Hale’s Restaurant to reopen after 4 month COVID-19 closure (WSLS)“It was hard. After that four month shutdown, Hale’s posted on Facebook on Monday to announce that it is going to reopen and is looking to hire about ten employees. His hours and salary have been cut because of COVID-19, so he decided to put in his own application.

ROANOKE, Va. – While Virginians already have to wear them, soon, McDonald’s customers across the country will be required to wear a mask as well. The fast-food giant announced on Friday that beginning, August 1, all customers will be required to wear some type of face covering while inside a McDonald’s. The company has developed a series of divider panels to allow for safer order taking and it’s pausing reopening its dining rooms for another 30 days. This means that the company will not approve the re-opening of any additional dining rooms for the next month. McDonald’s joins a large number of other national businesses that are requiring masks.

The director of the Roanoke-Alleghany Health District, Dr. Molly O’Dell, says so far, restaurants have been inconsequential in spreading the virus. The CDC says the risk of getting COVID-19 from handling and eating food from restaurants is thought to be very low. Even so, when an employee tests positive for the virus, restaurants aren’t taking any chances. The Daleville restaurant reopened Wednesday after being closed since June 22 because an employee tested positive for the coronavirus. The latest two local restaurants to have employees test positive for the coronavirus are the Cheddar’s and Olive Garden in Roanoke.

HOT SPRINGS, Va. – As many look forward to entering Phase Three Wednesday, one Bath County business is focusing on safety first. In a post on social media, Country Café informed customers for the time being it will continue with just takeout. While the owner said she isn’t worried about The Homestead welcoming back guests, she does want to do her part to protect employees and the county’s large elderly population. “With Bath County being one of the only counties in the state of Virginia still with zero cases, you know, we took that into consideration and what we can do to help to keep that level low,” said Shannon Boguess, Country Café owner. Boguess said watching numbers increase in across the nation impacted her decision to keep the dining room closed.

SALEM, Va. – More parts of Virginia are now open under Phase Three of the state’s reopening plan, but Gov. Northam decided to keep bar seating at restaurants closed for the indefinite future because of social distancing concerns. Bob Rotanz, owner of Mac & Bob’s Restaurant in Salem, told 10 News he was excited to have customers back at his bar seating. “It seemed like when they talked about the flare ups, whether in Myrtle Beach, Florida, Texas, or wherever, the word, ‘bar’ kept coming in there. I’m really not surprised...disappointed, but not surprised.”Although bar seating is off limits, restaurants no longer have to limit their capacity, as long as every group is at least six feet apart.

ROANOKE, Va. – One person who works at the Olive Garden on Valley View Boulevard in Roanoke has tested positive for the coronavirus, a Darden company spokesperson announced on Wednesday. The person last worked on June 24 and doesn’t work in a customer-facing role, according to Darden. The employee told their employers about the positive test result on Tuesday. This is now the fourth restaurant in the Valley View area of Roanoke to report a positive case among its employees. The Olive Garden employee can’t return to work until they have a written medical release or meet requirements to return to work per CDC guidelines, according to Darden.

ROANOKE, Va. – An employee at another restaurant surrounding the Valley View Mall has tested positive for the coronavirus. On Monday, a Cheddar’s employee informed his or her boss that he or she had tested positive for COVID-19, according to Rich Jeffers, a company spokesman. This employee, who does not interact with guests, last worked on June 26 and at the time did not display any symptoms. Once Cheddar’s learned about the diagnosis, Jeffers said the restaurant was sanitized using CDC-approved disinfectant. This employee will not be permitted to return to work until he or she has a written medical release or meets requirements to return to work per CDC guidelines.

Ralph Northam is taking a late step to keep people from gathering at bars as the state prepares to enter Phase 3 of its reopening amid the coronavirus pandemic. The governor said Tuesday the state's restaurants will not be allowed to fully reopen their bars as previously planned. Instead, restaurants can continue to operate under Phase 2 restrictions, which allows limited table service in bar areas but generally prohibits sitting at bar counters. The late notice will also hurt, he said, as restaurants will now have to scramble to adjust their staff and inventory. The Virginia Department of Health on Tuesday reported nearly 63,000 total cases of COVID-19, with just over 6,200 total hospitalizations and 1,760 deaths.

ROANOKE, Va. – The Grandin Village community is mourning the loss of a beloved restaurant owner. Bruce Morrow, the owner of the Community Inn, died last week after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Morrow is survived by his children including his son Mont, who says his father always wanted the Community Inn to live true to its name. The family held a private service for family and friends to honor Morrow’s legacy over the weekend. Morrow was 85 years old when he died.

ROANOKE, Va. – A Virginia Department of Health official, Dr. Molly O’Dell, said that despite recent closures of local restaurants after employees tested positive for COVID-19, people should be reassured that those restaurants are taking the precaution to temporarily close. O’Dell, the Communicable Disease Director for the Roanoke City-Alleghany Health Districts, said that restaurants aren’t required to close if one employee tests positive, but many want to so they can do a deep cleaning of the establishment. Some restaurants also have to shut down if they don’t have enough staff to remain open while the infected employee is quarantining. If there’s an outbreak at a restaurant, meaning more than one employee tests positive because the virus is being spread employee-to-employee, then restaurants are required to close by VDH. O’Dell also said that no cases have been reported locally where a restaurant employee has infected a patron.

BLACKSBURG, Va. Theres a new way to eat in downtown Blacksburg. The town closed off the portion of Draper Road between College Avenue and Jackson Street this week and put picnic tables there instead. Their manager, Ryan Yeates, believes it will be an asset before and after Virginia Tech students come back. Its always good to have more space and more seating, Yeates said. Now they can come out here and eat as well.

ROANOKE, Va. Five restaurants in the Roanoke Valley have temporarily closed after employees tested positive for COVID-19, which brings up the question: should people feel safe eating at restaurants? Now that restaurant dining rooms can partially reopen, Bellacinos owner Mike Fortner wants to make sure everyone feels comfortable. His staff cleans frequently, disinfects handles and bathrooms every hour and all employees wear face coverings and gloves. Bellacinos patrons Barbara and Roger Clites said that not everyone follows safety protocols at other restaurants in the area. "So this is just an extension of what theyve already been doing.Keep doing what were doing, said Fortner.

ROANOKE, Va. – A Mexican restaurant in Roanoke is temporarily closed after one of its employee tested positive for the coronavirus. Abuelo’s Mexican Restaurant, which is located just outside the Valley View Mall, will remain closed until June 22, according to a company spokeswoman. This comes after an employee tested positive for COVID-19. According to Abuelo’s, other employees who were exposed will be in quarantine for the standard amount of time. The restaurant is now following Virginia Health Department COVID-19 cleaning procedures.

SALEM, Va. A local restaurant was anticipating reopening Tuesday after two employees tested positive for the coronavirus. Mamma Marias posted on Facebook Tuesday morning that all employees are being retested for the coronavirus just to make sure theyre safe. As 10 News has reported, the Chick-fil-A on Valley View Boulevard in Roanoke just closed because an employee has tested positive. The VDH does follow up with restaurants, she said, to make sure theyre following their plans. As of Tuesday, there were three outbreaks at restaurants in the health district.

ROANOKE, Va. An employee at the Chick-fil-A on Valley View Blvd. The Valley View location will close temporarily. After learning that a Team Member at Chick-fil-A Valley View Boulevard was diagnosed with COVID-19, the restaurant temporarily closed and took precautionary measures, including disinfecting and deep cleaning the restaurant. The restaurant is working with the Virginia Department of Health to determine when it is safe to reopen. Safe service is our top priority and our restaurants continue to follow CDC and local health department guidelines.

DALEVILLE, Va. – A Botetourt County restaurant is closing its doors temporarily because an employee tested positive for COVID-19. Pancho Mexican Restaurant in Daleville shared a message to customers on the restaurant’s Facebook page on Tuesday. The employee who tested positive hasn’t worked in the past week, according to the restaurant. They said they will stay closed at least until all the tests are completed. Once all employees have negative tests, they will set a date to reopen, while also having the entire restaurant professionally cleaned, disinfected and sanitized in the meantime.

SALEM, Va. – You can now enjoy most of your favorite restaurants and breweries from inside their dining rooms again. Virginia’s Phase Two reopening plan took effect Friday, which allows restaurants to open inside at half capacity. Olde Salem Brewing Company in Salem reopened its taproom with social distancing precautions in place. General manager Shea Coffey said Olde Salem got through the last few months with beer deliveries and pick-up orders. Having people in the tap room is indispensable when it comes to how our business runs.”There are limitations to the reopened dining rooms.

Restaurants across the commonwealth are preparing for a sight they haven’t seen in months: customers dining inside. Under Phase One guidelines, they’ve been limited to outdoor seating at half capacity. Martin’s was able to add temporary outdoor seating to get by, but the once-bustling restaurant has been empty inside for months now. Outdoor seating at Martin’s only runs through Sunday. Starting Friday, Tuco’s will expand its outdoor seating, adding more tables in the parking lot.

LYNCHBURG, Va. – An event that started with 10 minutes of planning and a simple Facebook post has garnered a huge local response and demand for more like it. From open to close on Tuesday, the Mama Crockett’s Cider Donuts location in Lynchburg hosted an event called “Family Talk.”They provided free donuts and free coffee to anyone who stopped by. When we asked Willis how he could afford to provide the donuts and coffee to the community for free, he got choked up. He said, “You just do it,” and that “People are really hurting right now.”“It’s more like, how can we afford not to? Willis also said since the response was so great, he plans to start hosting “Family Talks” regularly, potentially even once a month.

On Friday, 10 News was there as 180 lunches were dropped off at the Wythe County Community Hospital from a special local business. Hospital employees lined up with carts, ready for one of Food for Frontline’s largest orders. Flourz owners, Dewey Newhouse and Jennifer Miller, along with their team, started working at 5 a.m. Friday morning to prepare the large order. Miller knows firsthand just how deserving the hospital employees are of a lunch to say thank for their hard work. She herself retired from Wythe County Community Hospital, trading in her scrubs for a ‘Support local business’ t-shirt.

ROANOKE, Va. – The Food for Frontline initiative dropped off more than 90 meals at the Roanoke City Police Department on Thursday. Donations from 10 News viewers paid for lunch from Sal’s Italian Restaurant in Bonsack. Both the police and restaurant said the community has been so supportive the past several months. Chris Ramey with Roanoke police. Friday is the last official stop on the Food for Frontline tour.

CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. Food for Frontline stopped in the New River Valley on Wednesday, delivering 80 meals to the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office. We stopped by as they prepared hamburgers and chicken sandwiches for deputies. Sheriff Hank Partin said they are grateful for the support they have received from the community in the past couple of months. I think touching is the best word, but even more than that, the community has stepped up for everyone. On Thursday and Friday, Food for Frontline is headed to the Roanoke City Police Department and the Wythe County Community Hospital.

SALEM, Va. – Food for Frontline moves into week six of using donations from 10 News viewers to buy meals for essential workers. On Tuesday, Schaal’s Catering and Events provided lunch for the Salem fire, police, dispatch and administration departments. Schaal's went above and beyond, setting up their airstream to serve food out of. The frontline workers were treated to BBQ ribs and pulled pork with several sides and desert. On Wednesday, Food for Frontline heads to Montgomery County to deliver lunch to the sheriff’s department.

ROANOKE, Va. Food for Frontline continued Thursday, feeding those who are working with the most vulnerable members of our community. Three Notchd Brewery in downtown Roanoke made grilled chicken sandwiches for employees at Friendship Retirement Community in south Roanoke County. The brewery general manager, Emily Laney, said the Food for Frontline program is much appreciated. Thursdays order of 75 meals was more food than theyve cooked in two months. On Friday, Food for Frontline delivers lunch to staff at Carilion Stonewall Jackson Hospital in Lexington.

DANVILLE, Va. Food for Frontline donations bought award-winning BBQ from a southside staple for employees at Sovah Health. On Wednesday, hospital employees were treated to lunch from the Checkered Pig BBQ. The community has been so supportive and so thankful, it's been very helpful, thank you, said Alan Larson, Sovah Health CEO. Thats just really a great experience to see everybody kind of pulling together during this time, said Leonard Phelps, Checkered Pig Assistant General Manager. Since the start of the initiative, 10 News viewers have donated more than $30,000 to feed more than 1,500 essential workers.

DALEVILLE, Va. – Tuesday happened to be the perfect time to deliver Food for Frontline meals to the Botetourt County Fire and EMS department. It's National EMS Week, a time to thank those who care for us. Firetrucks and ambulances from across the county stopped by Greenfield to grab a hot lunch from Three Li’l Pigs in Daleville. The fire chief said they are grateful the community paid for lunch, but he also encouraged folks to thank all the essential workers out there. Nearly 1,500 lunches have been delivered to frontline workers thanks to generous donations from 10 News viewers to this initiative.

CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. One Christiansburg restaurant will not be reopening its dining room when coronavirus restrictions are lifted. The Golden Corral on N. Franklin Street in Christiansburg is permanently closing, the company told 10 News. Platinum Corral, a franchisee of Golden Corral that operated that restaurant cited, the business impact of COVID-19 as the reason for the closure. Platinum Corral also operates the Roanoke Golden Corral location and told 10 News it offered jobs in Roanoke to many of its Christiansburg workers. The Christiansburg Golden Corral was open for more than five years.

BEDFORD, Va. – Food for Frontline is moving into week five of feeding those who have worked tirelessly during the COVID-19 pandemic. On Monday, the Bedford Police Department received lunch from a local bakery thanks to donations from 10 News viewers. The owner said faithful customers and Monday’s Food for Frontline order has helped them continue. It’s been really rough, really rough,” said Ginger Williams, owner of My Way Bakery. The Bedford Police Department was grateful that the community wanted to say thank you.

ROANOKE, Va. – Phase 1 of reopening for restaurants and businesses began Friday in Virginia. Downtown Roanoke saw a mixed bag of restaurants welcoming customers back but also those who are staying the course with curbside and to-go orders. We love dealing with everybody here in Roanoke and just serving them the best tacos and tequila they’ll get in town.”The trouble is that not every restaurant in downtown Roanoke has outdoor seating. At the City Market building, Tacos Rojas and Caribbica Soul both utilized their outdoor seating. Not every restaurant has outdoor seating, so Downtown Roanoke Inc. is looking into renting space in Market Square so that restaurants without outdoor patios can rent space, set up tables and bring in more business.

LYNCHBURG, Va. Some of the most important people during this pandemic have been those who clean hospitals, helping to stop the spread of the virus. On Friday, those employees at Centra Health in Lynchburg got lunch thanks to Food for Frontline. Macados in Lynchburg delivered 60 lunches to the environmental services department, bought with donations to the initiative from 10 News viewers. One environmental services employee said they certainly hear everyones Thank yous during this time but pointed out they do more than clean rooms. It was very surprising, and we really do have some really great people that cares, said Harrick Horsley, Environmental Services Technician.

ROANOKE, Va. – Donations to Food for Frontline bought lunch for 60 Kindred at Home employees on Wednesday. On Wednesday, a portion of that bought lunch from Remini’s on Brambleton Avenue in Roanoke for the frontline workers with Kindred at Home. Kindred at Home employees said they were thankful to be part of stopping the spread of COVID-19. To help us and help those people that need food,” said Remini’s owner Dawn Ferrone. On Thursday, those who are working to feed students in Roanoke County will receive Food for Frontline lunches thanks to your donations.

Published: May 12, 2020, 11:40 pm Updated: May 13, 2020, 12:19 amLYNCHBURG, Va. – Several new businesses are planned for a project on Timberlake Road in Lynchburg. Chick-fil-A submitted plans to build its 5th Lynchburg restaurant location on Timberlake Road across from Kroger. A 24/7 drive-thru Sheetz is set to open across from BB&T and Bojangles'. Thomas Builders is also planning a retail development featuring two 6,600 square foot multi-use commercial buildings. Construction started about two weeks ago, however it’s not clear when everything will be completed.

Leonore also launched a free food delivery service to help out employees who were laid off. Restaurants like this one usually rely on third-party food delivery services during COVID-19, but with a 30% commission fee, the price tag makes it hard to make a profit that is already slim. Cabo Fish Taco’s Regional Manager Richard Barrar said the restaurant launched its own delivery service, as well. Typically, those restaurants rely on third-party food delivery services, like Grubhub, Uber Eats or DoorDash. Eric Terry, the president of the Virginia Restaurant, Lodging & Travel Association said it’s about time Virginia does the same.

ROANOKE, Va. – “Helping Healthcare Heroes” is how Athens Corner Grill in Roanoke is describing their recent show of appreciation for those on the front lines. The restaurant is giving out $25 gift cards to local health care professionals as a gesture of support for their efforts. Dimos Tripodianos is the owner of Athens Corner Grill. “Basically want to show that those health care workers and all the people involved in fighting this pandemic, that the community is behind them," Tripodianos said. If you would like to make a donation toward the purchase of gift cards, all you have to do is head to their website or give them a call at 540-206-2210.

ROANOKE, Va. – Like many area businesses, the COVID-19 pandemic put Sweet Donkey Coffee in a tough spot. But things started to look up when Valley iRepair reached out with a unique plan that reached beyond both businesses. “Our friends at Valley iRepair came to us and they wanted to donate $300 to Sweet Donkey,” said Dustin Eshelman, co-owner of Sweet Donkey Coffee. They donated 50% of their proceeds on Wednesday to Sweet Donkey Coffee. Sweet Donkey Coffee has already received more than $1,000 in donations.

ROANOKE, Va. – Some people are having trouble finding meat at the grocery store and Texas Roadhouse is hoping to provide an answer. The restaurant chain is now selling ready-to-grill steaks directly to the public. “The decision to sell steaks was based on demand from guests. [Texas Roadhouse CEO not taking a salary until 2021 to pay his restaurant workers]For more details and availability, call your local Texas Roadhouse. Entrée options include cheeseburgers, grilled chicken, chicken critters, pulled pork, beef tips, sirloin steaks and ribs.

ROANOKE, Va. – For those in Florida, starting next month they won’t need to go to a Chick-fil-A to have some of the restaurant’s amazing sauces. The restaurant announced Wednesday that it’s launching a pilot program to sell both Chick-fil-A sauce and its Polynesian sauce in all Florida Publix, Target, Walmart and Winn-Dixie stores. Rather than sell these bottles for company profit, 100 percent of Chick-fil-A, Inc. proceeds from the retail sales of the 16-ounce bottled sauces will be donated to Chick-fil-A’s Team Member scholarship program, which will award $17 million to 6,700 Team Members in 2020. Those who go to a Chick-fil-A in Florida won’t be limited to those two sauces but will also be able to get 8-ounce bottles of barbecue, honey mustard and garden herb ranch. Now while we don’t know this for sure, if this Florida program has a successful launch, it’s likely that Chick-fil-A would launch this to more markets, hopefully Virginia.