Photos by Chris Winston | The Roanoke Times

The restaurant's marquee reads, "Thanks to our many friends." The 45 employees at the restaurant, which closes Monday, were given severance packages or the ability to transfer to another location.

The Texas Steakhouse on Ponderosa Drive in Christiansburg opened in 1994. The restaurant is closing because "the traffic flow wasn't the same" after the construction of the bypass from Interstate 81 to north Blacksburg, manager April Danner says.

The final day for the restaurant, at 50 Ponderosa Drive at the intersection with U.S. 460, will be Monday, manager April Danner said.

The restaurant is owned by franchisee Boddie-Noell Enterprises Inc. of Rocky Mount.

It opened at the location in 1994, Danner said, and the lease is expiring. Boddie-Noell officials have decided not to renew. Other restaurants will not be affected.

The 45 employees at the restaurant -- including 10 or so who work full time -- were given severance packages or the ability to transfer to another location, Danner said. There are also Texas Steakhouse restaurants in Roanoke and Princeton, W.Va.

Danner, who has managed the business for 10 years, said she will be transferring to the Princeton location.

While the slow economy "has an effect on everybody," Danner said, it's not the reason the store is closing.

Instead, it was the construction of the bypass from Interstate 81 to north Blacksburg that had the biggest impact, Danner said.

"The traffic flow wasn't the same," she said.

Also, the number of food options in the area has grown tremendously over that time, Danner said. Development along both Peppers Ferry Road and North Franklin Street have brought choices from Olive Garden and Panera Bread to Red Robin and Blackstone Grill.

"It's a fusion of choices," she said.

Another restaurant in the area, Texas Roadhouse, is stepping up to take advantage of the closing of its similarly named competitor.

Zach Kennedy, a manager of the Texas Roadhouse at 100 Bradley Drive, said his restaurant will accept all Texas Steakhouse coupons and will provide free entrees to anyone who brings in a Texas Steakhouse gift card.