by Vickie Holt

During the early development of downtown Vinton, many of the buildings that currently line the streets were being built. Particularly, the construction standing at 106 East Lee Avenue was completed in 1942. Nothing is known about the building’s occupancy from 1942 to 1948, but in 1948, it became home to Vinton Restaurant, opened by the Guthrie family.

Shrouded in just as much mystery as the first six years of the building, is the progression of the restaurant, as well as its ownership. In the 1960’s, however, we know that Velma Guthrie changed the name to Dogwood Restaurant.
Ralph Chumley, owner of Citizen’s Upholstery, across the street, recalls that when he opened his shop in 1965, the restaurant was already established, serving buffet style meals. Chumley also recalls that the restaurant changed hands several times throughout the years, being owned at one time by Dan Doss, and at another time by Dan’s brother, Melvin Doss.
From its earliest years, Vinton Restaurant/Dogwood Restaurant was a popular gathering place for Vintonites and visitors alike. In earlier times, it was also a buzzing hub of social interaction, with folks from the town visiting to meet up with friends, family, and co-workers.
As the years went by, and as the restaurant was handed from one owner to another, it ended up in the hands of Sylvia Hollinsworth, who bought it at the end of the 1980’s. In 1994, however, Keith Poff bought the restaurant, and it remains in his hands to this day.
In the early 1990’s, Keith’s brother, Mark, bought Ernie’s, a restaurant in downtown Roanoke. He purchased it from the original Ernie! Just twenty-one at the time, Keith went to work for Mark and was introduced to the restaurant business.
Ernie’s was also a popular spot and shared one very special thing in common with Dogwood – a fateful customer. It was this man who mentioned to Keith that Dogwood Restaurant was up for sale. Keith tells us that at just twenty-four years of age, he went to Dogwood for lunch and bought the place just two weeks later. His new bride, Jodi, was surprised that he’d made such a large purchase when they were just getting married, but she joined in, helping with the paperwork. Today, Jodi Poff is the school principal at Cave Spring Elementary, and perfectly happy with Keith’s leap of faith.
Sadly, in 2009, Mark passed away. In memorial, a mounted marlin Mark once caught on a fishing trip hangs behind the counter. With the exception of the marlin, Keith was reluctant to change Dogwood too much. When he first bought it, Vinton’s old folks were the biggest part of the clientele. Now, however, the younger folks have found them, too. “The older generation still comes,” says Keith, “and now it’s a great mix. Everybody knows everybody!”
In 2011, Keith brought his childhood friend, Jamie McCarthy in as General Manager. Before coming to work with Keith, Jamie had worked several other jobs, including drafting work for architects and store planning and design for Advance Auto. He worked weekends at the restaurant for nine years before finally making the switch. Jamie tells us he left drafting behind because of changes in the work environment. At Dogwood, he enjoys more interaction with people, as well as not having to sit behind a desk! Jamie loves creating food, and he has joyfully embraced the restaurant business.  (Above: Jamie McCarthy and Keith Poff)
In 2019, Jamie became a partner, and this was for a very specific reason. In mid-2009, the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) awarded a Business District Revitalization Project Planning Grant to the Town of Vinton. Most who live in the area have been aware of the revitalization efforts for several years. In 2019, however, the revitalization project finally reached the threshold of Dogwood Restaurant.
A big expansion was planned, but then 2020 happened. Like other restaurants across the nation, Dogwood had to close its doors. Once allowed, they opened again, but for to-go orders only. Progress was put on hold. The partners had to let many of their employees go, and they were only making enough to pay the bills. As Keith admits, “it was difficult and scary.”
Eventually, however, restrictions were lifted, and the expansion plans resumed. The goal is to expand into the adjacent building and create a hybrid establishment. The original restaurant will not change. It will remain the traditional, family-friendly establishment it has been all along.
The expansion side, however, will be more modern. In addition to serving alcohol, the new side of Dogwood will also have extended hours for the night-time crowd. The Town of Vinton has also created a beautiful patio that will serve as an outdoor dining space, as well as a space for live music. Customers dining on the patio will be able to order and receive their food directly through a window being constructed on the side of the building.
Keith and Jamie plan to partner with local breweries, and the Town of Vinton has something special up its sleeve that will make it possible for customers to carry adult beverages off premises during festivals and special events.
As Town Manager, Pete Peters tells us, “the Town is planning on utilizing the state’s new Outdoor Refreshment Area (ORA) ABC Permit that recently went in to law. Essentially, the Town will grant approval for up to sixteen events per calendar year to use the ORA permit and restaurants/breweries located within the defined boundaries of the area would be permitted to sell ABC off-premises during the hours of the event.”
Though global shortages continue to impede progress, everyone involved hopes the expansion will be completed in late summer, 2022. Both Keith and Jamie are really looking forward to being part of the Vinton revitalization, as it will be providing them an opportunity to be more modern than ever before, with progressive styling.
The food to be served in the expansion will also carry the theme of modernization. There is a new trend in farm-to-table dining. Along with continuing shortages and inflation, Keith and Jamie plan to embrace the trend and support local farmers by buying as much locally sourced food as they can. Whenever possible, they will also be cooking and serving food that has never been frozen.
The partners are excited about the new items they will be serving in the expansion. They’ve had several dishes in mind for quite some time, as well as a few things customers would not be able to get anywhere else, such as their bourbon candy bacon appetizer.
As for the original restaurant, the menu will remain the same as it is now – home-cooked, southern American food. The restaurant has a lot of loyal customers and keeping them happy is important to Keith and Jamie. The restaurant will continue serving its daily specials, as well as its famous burgers…not to mention the best breakfast in the area! With a staff that includes long-term cooks like Carmalita Johnson (32 years), and Linda Parker (22+ years), fans of Dogwood can rest assured that their favorite dishes will not be changing anytime soon!
Also on staff is head waitress, Jessica Blankenship, who has been with Dogwood since 2009. Linda’s son, Raymond Parker, is the night-time grill cook. Finally, Karen Beard and her daughter, Brittany Conner, have both been Dogwood waitresses for ten years.
From left to Right: Front: Logan Segall, Jessica Blankenship, Jose Hernandez, Raymond Parker, Linda Parker, Brittany Conner. Back: Tyler Westerhold, Jamie McCarthy, Brittany Conner.
There’s a lot of history in Dogwood Restaurant. Not just in the building and the staff, but also in the customers who have made it part of their lives for the past seventy-four years. Sports banners hang from the ceiling, commemorating not only an age-old relationship with William Byrd High School, but also with other schools and colleges in the region. Many of Vinton’s most elderly citizens sat at the counter when they were teenagers. Vinton was established 138 years ago, and Dogwood Restaurant has been around for more than half its history.
And from the look of things, it will be around for a good part of its future. Thanks to all the new restaurants in Vinton, folks who’ve never heard of Dogwood have recently discovered it. So many, in fact, that Dogwood is doing even better than before the pandemic! Keith and Jamie are really looking forward to the expansion and they hope that even more new customers will be drawn to downtown Vinton as a result.

Dogwood Restaurant • 540-343-6549
106 E Lee Ave, Vinton, VA • dogwoodrestaurant@cox.net
www.facebook.com/DogwoodRestaruant