After six decades of serving the Roanoke community, Pete’s Deli has officially closed its doors. The beloved family-owned restaurant announced it had to vacate its location due to a new business taking over the space, bringing an end to a long and heartfelt chapter in Roanoke’s food scene.
Pete’s Deli first opened in 1965 and became a staple for locals craving quality meals and familiar faces. In 2006, the deli relocated to its current home on Town Square Boulevard, where it remained for over 18 years. Even during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Pete’s made a strong comeback with its loyal staff and customers cheering it on.
In a farewell message posted at the deli, owners Ron, Lisa, Misty, and Heather expressed deep gratitude to their customers, staff, vendors, and the Bank of Botetourt for their unwavering support. They reflected on countless memories—from birthdays to reunions—and the many friendships formed over the years.
Though the doors have closed, Pete’s Deli leaves behind a legacy of community, resilience, and good food.
The message in text format:
For 60 years, Pete’s Deli has enjoyed serving the Roanoke community. The past year we were put on a month-to-month lease and were just informed that another business will be taking occupancy soon and we would need to vacate the space.
It is with great sadness that we served our last customers Saturday night, March 29, 2024.
Owning Pete’s and transforming it from the small restaurant it was at Crossroads starting in 1965 to what it is now has been a rollercoaster and what a ride it has been. We were the third owners and served Roanoke in two locations. In 2006, we were given notice to vacate and another business took over our location. We closed down not knowing where we would go but soon found and remodeled the current space at Town Sq Blvd where we have called home the past 18 and a half years. We closed for three months during Covid and came back with a staff hungry to serve Roanoke again. When we reopened it felt like a family reunion, seeing staff, coworkers and customers again. Roanoke supported us in a bigger way than we could ever have dreamed possible and it is with much heartbreak that we are closing at a time when business could not be better.
To our customers, we are thankful for all the years you have supported our family owned business. We looked forward each day to seeing familiar faces and welcoming new ones. Celebrating birthdays, anniversaries and even mourning your losses have all been part of our daily lives. There are so many that have become family and so many that quickly became close friends. Our family and our staff will miss seeing you and deeply appreciate the support, encouragement and time you have spent with us for so many years.
To the Bank of Botetourt, a huge thanks for helping us achieve our dreams not once but twice. Our choosing a hometown bank made reaching our goals possible and working together was easy.
To our vendors, thank you!
Boars Head, Flowers Bread, Produce Source Partners,
H and C Coffee, US Foods, PFG, Pepsi, Arc and so many more…
Thank you for showing up every week with great products and allowing us to achieve our goals of serving top quality products to our customers at a fair price that kept them coming back for 26 years.
Last but not least to our staff, we could NEVER have done any of this without each of you. It is rare for restaurants to have a staff that was as dedicated and loyal as ours. Numerous have been with us 10+ years. Our staff has shown up daily to serve family and friends. We have laughed together, encouraged and cried with each other during difficult times and loved each other like family. We will miss each of you and are thankful for every hour put in. Each of you have forever changed our lives.
Pete’s Deli
Ron, Lisa, Misty and Heather
Pete’s Deli will be missed by many in the community – Thank you for serving us!