K&W Cafeteria closed all locations effective immediately on December 1, 2025, ending an 88-year run that made the chain a beloved institution across the South. The sudden closure affects all restaurants including the Hershberger Road location in Roanoke, Virginia, leaving employees without jobs and loyal customers without their cherished Sunday dining tradition.
The company announced the shocking news the morning of December 1 through a social media post, offering no explanation for why the doors closed after nearly nine decades of serving communities. The abrupt nature of the closure caught customers and likely employees by surprise, with no advance warning or gradual wind-down period.
A legacy spanning nearly nine decades
For 88 years, K&W Cafeterias served as more than just restaurants in communities across multiple states. The cafeteria-style chain built its reputation on consistent home-style cooking, affordable prices and a welcoming atmosphere that drew multiple generations of families through its doors week after week.
The dining concept followed the traditional cafeteria model where customers moved through a line selecting hot entrees, vegetables, salads and desserts displayed behind glass. This approach allowed diners to see exactly what they were getting before making selections, creating transparency that built trust with customers who returned year after year…