The Roanoke Times

Bud Foster's restaurant features several flat-screen televisions, and the old Boston Beanery bar was expanded.

The Roanoke Times

Bud Foster's Restaurant opened in the location that previously housed Boston Beanery, which closed May 31. Foster, Virginia Tech's defensive coordinator, has a vested interest in the restaurant and has contributed a few ideas, including the use of his trademarked lunch pail, famous with Hokie fans, but is leaving the day-to-day operations to others.

Business name: Bud Foster's Restaurant

Owners: Robert Hodge and Quinn Hansen

Address: 400 Turner St. N.W., Suite 101, Blacksburg

Hours: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday

Contact information: budfostersrestaurant@gmail.com; 951-9780; Web site under construction

What is it? Hodge calls the restaurant upscale casual dining with American fare such as steaks, chicken and seafood. The basic layout of the former restaurant in the space, Boston Beanery, stayed the same, but most of the windows, woodwork and paint were changed and glass was added to partitions separating some of the tables in the dining area, said Adam Glessner, kitchen manager. The bar was expanded, the entrance hallway was closed in and defined and a gate and new fencing were added around the outdoor patio.

Why it opened? Hodge has been in the restaurant business as a manager for more than 20 years, and wanted to open a restaurant of his own. "Everybody drives to Christiansburg, and I wanted to have something locally in Blacksburg," Hodge said.

Best opening day moment: Talking to the customers and listening to their feedback about the menu, prices and food quality, Hodge said. "The excitement level of the restaurant and seeing it on the customers' and employees' faces -- it was kind of a validation for me of what we've done so far," he said. "There were also surprised looks when former Boston Beanery customers came in and saw the changes."

History: "Yes, the restaurant is the namesake of Virginia Tech [football] coach Bud Foster," Hodge said. Foster has a vested interest in the restaurant and has contributed a few ideas, including the use of his trademarked lunch pail, famous with Hokie fans, but is leaving the day-to-day operations to others. He has the option to become more involved in the future if he chooses, Hodge said. The lunch pail emblem has been inset into the bar and may be used as a serving plate for specials and appetizers in the future. "I've known him for 16 years, and he's a great, generous person," Hodge said of Foster. "His name has that instant recognition."

The building was originally Boston Beanery, part of a tavern-style restaurant chain that closed May 31 after about seven years in Blacksburg, citing "tough economic conditions and declining sales."

Open for business is a feature by Roanoke Times writer Amy Matzke that spotlights new businesses in the New River Valley. To have your business considered for the series, call 381-1674 or e-mail amy.matzke@roanoke.com.