A Staunton restaurant staple with a history of hosting politicians and civic clubs has announced its closure effective Dec. 24.
Mrs. Rowe’s Restaurant will close its doors permanently at noon on Christmas Eve, according to a social media post this morning.
“This has been a very difficult decision to make. We know that this will impact many of you,” a statement said, signed by Mike, Mary Lou and Aaron DiGrassie. “Over the 78 years in business, we have come to consider many of you close friends.
“We thank you for your support over the years, and we hope, from the bottom of our hearts, that we will continue many of these friendships.”
Health issues appear to have played a factor in the closure; the restaurant had been listed for sale though no buyer was found.
“It has been listed for sale for quite some time but no one has come through,” wrote Lisa Vandevander in response to an inquiry about the restaurant. “Due to the family’s health, we have no other options at this time.”
While the news was met with sadness by many patrons, some employees were downright angry that they learned of the closure on social media.
“Helluva a way to find out you will no longer have a job,” wrote Sheryl Petty on the viral Facebook post. The online post announcing the closure has been shared more than 1,000 times.
The restaurant responded to Petty that letters were waiting for employees.
“Mrs. Rowe would be ashamed at how things had been handled,” wrote one patron in response. “Your employees should of been notified before the public and not find out via a social media comment, that showed absolutely no respect to your employees.”
Patrons: Bittersweet news
Mildred Rowe, known as the “pie lady,” was the subject of a book by local author Mollie Ann Cox in 2009.
“With the news of Mrs. Rowe’s Family Restaurant closing, my heart breaks a little, even though I’ve not been there in awhile,” Cox said. “Few people realize how ahead of her time Mildred Rowe was. If you look at her life through the history of the restaurant business, or if you look at it through women’s history, she was simply cutting edge.
“She started a family restaurant business that lasted for 78 years. Few can say the same.”
The restaurant was recently featured in Southern Living magazine where the writer said the pies remind you of “walking into your grandmother’s kitchen for a sweet treat, assuming your grandma is a really great baker.”
ICYMI
Some patrons weighed in on the announcement reminiscing about meals at Mrs. Rowe’s over the years. They wrote about the baked goods including cinnamon ice cream, coconut cream pie and spoon bread.
“Your restaurant has been a mainstay of our family for 40 years, beginning when as newlyweds during law school at UVA we learned it was the best place for a good meal in the region: we regularly traveled over the mountain to eat there,” wrote Alexander Whitaker in response to the news. “Though we have moved all over the world since, always we would visit when back in the area. Our now-grown children have the best of memories eating there. We now trek regularly up I-81 and hope to stop by one last time this month. That will be bittersweet indeed.”
Tom McCubbins wrote that he had many wonderful meals at the mainstay over the years.
“Rowe’s was the first restaurant that I went to when I moved to Staunton in 1957. Mrs. Rowe introduced my youngest daughter and myself to cinnamon ice cream a number of years ago! Too many memories. Will miss stopping in when I venture to the mountains.”
Others wrote about how Mrs. Rowe’s was a stopping point on their travels up and down Interstate 81.
“We have fond memories of stopping at Mrs. Rowes for lunch many times as we traveled from the Washington, DC area to southern West Virginia to visit family,” wrote Eddie Adkins. “Thank you for the great food and service over the years. We will feel a tug at our hearts each time we pass your exit off I-81.
“We will miss you.”
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Crystal Graham
