PORTSMOUTH, Va. — Roger Brown's Restaurant & Sports Bar will be closing after 25 years of business, according to a letter posted on social media.
"Closing after 25 years is not easy, but we do so with full hearts and deep gratitude. While the tables may soon be cleared and the lights turned off, the memories made here will remain—with us and, we hope, with you," the letter reads.
Roger Brown's Restaurant & Sports Bar is named after Virginia Sports Hall of Famer, six-time NFL Pro Bowl participant, and Surry County native Roger Brown. He was a defensive tackle for the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams before retiring in Portsmouth and opening several restaurants. He passed away at the age of 84 on Sept. 17, 2021.
“Lots of memories are with Roger and I running the restaurant,” Lyons said. “Because Roger was such a character, lots of humor, and so that’s a very fond memory.”
Lyons said the business evolved over time, welcoming a diverse group of customers and hosting community organizations, meetings, and even church gatherings.
But he said several factors contributed to the decision to close, including the impact of tolls, the COVID-19 pandemic, and competition from the nearby casino.
Lyons said the restaurant’s partners have sold the business and are moving on to a new venture — a decision he says has been in the works for more than a year.
“It’s not a short-term decision,” Lyons said. “It’s a long-term decision that we as partners have been working on for at least over a year.”
Just two doors down, Portsmouth General Store owner Tony Goodwin said the closure marks the end of an era for downtown.
“I stood right in front of that place when Roger Brown said, ‘I’m going to open up the best place so that everybody will come from everywhere,' Goodwin said. “We believed it, and we knew it was timely, and it worked out well.”
Roger Brown passed away in 2021, but Lyons said the community helped keep the restaurant going in the years that followed.
“We thank the community of Portsmouth and the surrounding community for supporting us over all these years,” Lyons said.
As the final days approach, Lyons is encouraging customers to stop by one last time to share memories and celebrate what the restaurant represented to the city.
The sports bar's last day of business will be Sunday, fittingly, as the community gathers to watch Super Bowl LX.
