The Loss of a Lexington Icon
If you grew up in the Lexington, Virginia area, you know the Southern Inn. If you’ve ever visited Lexington, you know the Southern Inn. If you’ve ever passed through downtown Lexington on your way to some place with taller buildings and brighter lights, you know the Southern Inn. You may have no idea that the spinach dip there is addictive, or that there are coat hooks on the end of each booth, but that two-story blue sign that says “PARKING IN REAR – SOUTHERN INN RESTAURANT” is unforgettable. With a sign like that, you know the place has stories to tell – stories of romance, business deals, friendship, bank robberies (OK, maybe not bank robberies, but if a movie needed an early 1900′s bar for a scene where a bank robbery was being planned out the Southern Inn would be perfect).
(The church on the left was destroyed by fire ten years ago almost exactly ten years ago)
Late Thursday night a line of severe thunderstorms charged through the Lexington area. It was a welcomed relief to the desert like weather we had been having for what seemed an eternity. It rained enough to cause flash flooding and bring hope to those with gardens. As Lexington woke up the next morning, refreshed by the cleansing down pour and cooler temperatures, it was handed devastating news. While most of Lexington was fast asleep, the Southern Inn had been destroyed by fire.
When I was driving to work around 9:00AM that morning, I hadn’t heard the news. As I approached the Nelson- Main Street intersection, I noticed part of the road was closed. At first this didn’t alarm me because the road at this intersection is often rerouted for the construction of a new bank. As I approached the traffic light I saw a fire truck, police cars and several rescue workers; this raised my eyebrow a little. However, this is Lexington and because there isn’t much excitement around, it would not have surprised me if the entire town was dispatched for a smoking tail pipe on an old beat-up truck. It wasn’t until I turned the corner to head North down Main Street that I saw what all of the traffic disruption was all about. I looked to my left and felt my heart drop to my stomach as I saw light from the caved in roof pouring into the soot covered Southern Inn and creating a silhouette around one of the angry pig figurines that has been in the window of the restaurant for as long as I can remember. As I continued to creep down the road, following a procession of mourners, I panicked, “Where was the sign!?” I looked in my side mirrors, and there it was, clinging to the side of the building for dear life. Seeing that sign was like getting a big hug from Lexington that I could bury my face in.
I returned to the Southern Inn on Friday evening to pay my respects. I followed the big blue sign’s instructions and parked in the rear. I took a few minutes to take in the back of the building before walking through the tiny alley way that led to Main Street. I stood on Main Street looking at the big blue sign and that angry pig in the window, and began remembering the few times that I was part of the Southern Inn’s story. The first memory I have of the Southern Inn is when I was a little girl; we went there for breakfast with my mom’s family that was visiting from out of town. I was very young, but I remember having the biscuits and gravy and thinking, “Wow. I better be good; this place is fancy.” My second memory was of going to eat dinner with one of my best friends from high school. We sat in a booth with a coathook on the end; we shared the spinach dip and each had a cheeseburger. The third memory I have, is one of mine and Steve’s first night out alone after Moanna was born. Steve did not want to go to the Southern Inn at all because he thought it was going to be very country; he has a reputation of pre-judging things in Virginia. I can’t remember what we ate that night (other than the spinach dip of course), but I do remember that Steve was pleasantly surprised by the experience.
As I was about to leave, I looked down at my feet and saw a broken soot covered brick. I picked it up, held it to my face and took a deep breath in. I could smell the fire from the night before, but what I really smelled deep inside that brick was history and memories – stories of romance, business deals, the laughter of friendship and maybe even the plotting of a great bank robbery.
**So far a cause of the fire has not yet be determined. The owners of the restaurant and building have assured the community that they plan to rebuild and open as soon as possible.
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Great article! Maybe you should submit it to the paper.
So, my question is… Did you keep the brick?
Maybe I did. Maybe I didn’t.
Even though I have seen this up close and personal for hours on end for the last few days, seeing the pictures still chills me. It is devastating to the whole community, but as an employee, we appreciate all of the warm thoughts and well wishes.
FYI, we got confirmation today that it was indeed lightning that caused the fire.
George has assured up he will rebuild, and we will be bigger and better than ever!
Tara, I had no idea you worked there! This must be so heartbreaking for you. It’s so good to hear that George is looking ahead and planning for the future success of the Southern Inn.
AND, thank you for confirming the cause of the fire. It has been driving me nuts not knowing how it happened.
This is such a touching tribute that I totally agree with Josh Connell; you should submit it to the Lexington papers, including the Advocate. It is very well written besides being so heartfelt. I believe you need to share it with other Lexantonians.
Also as a employee I must say, this is beautiful!!! I am going to post this to my facebook so all the other employees can read it also. First thing in the morning I am going to call George and his wife Sue Ann and have them read it too. I am so sure they will appreciate this as much as I have. Thank you!!
Summer, I can’t imagine how painful and shocking this week has been for you. My prayers go out to everyone that works there. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for the Southern Inn.
Renee, I can’t tell you how saddened I was to hear about the Southern Inn Friday morning! Pete, who has only been to Lexington a couple of times, but most every time, has graced the doorways of the Southern Inn was even sad when I told him the news. I was in Lexington this weekend for Shaleen’s Bridal Shower and I, of course, had to stop and pay my respects upon arriving Friday evening. I took pictures and took in the scene and realized how empty it made Lexington (and me) feel. We had planned to go to SI for drinks and/or dinner Friday but sadly, I couldn’t get my fix of the place. Thanks for paying tribute to the SI in this blog post, I am forwarding the blog for others to read. Miss you!
Very hard for you to come home to, I feel certain of that. In spite of the tears, I hope you had a great time in LexVegas!
As a Lexington native born in the Stonewall Jackson House, this is a great loss.
Very sad.
UP
When I drove by today on my way to work, the sign was gone.
Renee – Thank you for such a heartfelt tribute. I too have posted it to my Facebook page for my family and friends.
Erica, my thoughts and prayers are with the staff at the Southern Inn as you look forward to what the future has in store for each of you and this great Lexington icon.
found this as I clicked over from Love Thursday at Chookooloonks
My condolences for your loss. This writing shows how personal are your feelings.
In November 1990, in Normal IL, a restaurant I worked in burned down. It happened on my night off, I went in to work the next morning, shocked at the scene, as the fire fighters were putting away their equipment, and the Inspector was walking thru smoldering debris.
The cause was determined to be Arson, perhaps by a buddy of one of the cooks, but no one ever was arrested.
The owner denied knowledge and had to sort out insurance and legal fees, but there was 8 days on my time card I never got paid for, and I scrambled to find another job to be able to buy gifts for Christmas.
It’s good that this proprietor plans to rebuild.
I can’t believe you were never paid for those eight days of work!
Actually, none of the employees were paid for that last time, or notified of legal proceedings. I got a job in a nursing home kitchen — still foodservice — but less stressful and with health benefits. But it seemed a long time between paychecks.
Someone at my son’s school knew our plight and put our family’s name on a charity list for Christmas.
Very humbling to have a van pull up in front of the house, and a man carry a wildly wrapped box up the walk. Inside was a gift for each child and the fixins for a holiday lunch.
Goodness, that was almost 20 years ago, and memory gets dim. Amazing what the blogging world does for us.
Thanks for stopping in at my place
Yes, I am having a fine and busy summer!
We got hit with “ball” lightning a couple years ago. Came right through the side of the house and blew a hole in the wall and sent all the electric cable shooting out of the drywall though most of the back side of the house. Had a flash fire that put itself out but…every electronic gizmo in the house, whether on or off, was fried, including the battery operated bathroom scale! Gas meter, unused cable box 100 foot away and satellite receiver another 100 foot in the other direction all blown to bits. What lightning can do is awesome and fearsome! I’m hungry for that spinach dip…hope by the time I get to Lexington again I can get some!