The Restaurants:

The Virginian Restaurant is lauded as “one of the south’s most famous eateries” in Coy Barefoot’s book, The Corner, a book documenting the history of UVA’s commercial district.  While small, the restaurant packs more tradition and history than most.  The walls are decorated with over 80 years of photographs documenting both the history of Charlottesville and The Virginian.  The wooden booths and pressed tin ceiling complement the historic feeling of the restaurant.  The Virginian is a bar and grill at heart, but takes standard bar food to the next level by offering big steaks, seafood, pastas, huge salads, and interesting appetizers.  Our spinach and artichoke dip is well known around town.  The Virginian prides itself on being able to offer different atmospheres at different times of day.  Lunches are dominated by business people, UVA staff, and tourists looking for excellent service and delicious food.  Dinner time lends itself more to families, students, and couples desiring intimacy with a fun atmosphere.  The most interesting change occurs after 10PM when the Virginian becomes one of the most exciting nighttime destinations in Charlottesville .  Students and locals pack the restaurant, all looking for a good time with their friends. 

West Main was designed to bridge the gap between “The Corner” and the downtown mall areas of Charlottesville , taking the best parts of both.  While less than a mile down the road from the Virginian, West Main presents a completely different experience than its sister restaurant.  West Main offers three levels of dining and meeting space, each with its own distinct feel.  The atmosphere is upscale casual with American themed dishes and features finer dining than you would expect to find around UVA.  Entrée selections include an eight ounce filet, a 16 ounce ribeye, meetloaf and gravy, spiced macaroni and cheese, and parmesan crusted fried catfish. West Main also offers many sandwiches like the philly cheese ribeye and the West Monte Cristo.  The salads and appetizers are delicious and feature bacon wrapped scallops and our duck breast salad.  West Main caters to everyone from students to families to the dating scene.  Our high-backed booths in the main dining room offer intimacy, while our cocktail tables at each of our two bars offer a more casual and involved experience.  Be sure to check out the “Crows Nest” room which gives diners an elevated look at our first level.  West Main has two bars, pool tables, a foosball table, video games, two lounge areas, nine televisions, and is available for private events.  The two upstairs dining rooms are perfect for smaller events of up to 30 people while the downstairs caters to more adventurous crowds of up to 200 people.  Parking is available in the gravel lot behind the restaurant all day.

three. a kitchen and lounge opened August 23rd, 2007. It was designed to bring a metropolitan experience to UVA's Corner district. three offers contemporary American dining and showcases a bistro steak, chicken napolean, and a fresh shellfish stew. For lunch, three offers an excellent line up of sandwiches that can be ordered with our exclusive tater tots. Of course, Saturday is still 80's night, because we can't get enough of it. Three also has karaoke on Tuesdays, an International DJ party Wednesdays, and modern hits on Thursday and Friday. Our four huge plasma tv's and monster projection screen are perfect for sporting events. Come check it out, the Corner has never seen anything like it.

Buildings and History:

The Virginian opened its doors in 1923, and to this day remains in the same location, making it the oldest restaurant in the city of Charlottesville . The Virginian was one of the first tenants in the then newly constructed Hildreth building at 1521 University Avenue .  This building was named for its developer and was the first of many developments designed to stretch the Corner, UVA’s commercial district, westward towards the University. Billy Gooch and Ellis Brown, both alumni, were the founding owners of The Virginian.  During prohibition, the Virginian was no speakeasy, but instead “was known for its root beer, goose liver sandwiches, and small sporting goods shop,” writes Coy Barefoot.  Upon prohibition’s repeal in 1933, The Virginian, along with many other Corner restaurants turned their soda fountains into draft taps.  The restaurant has seen ups and downs from meat and beer shortages in the 40’s to social unrest in the 50’s to wild parties downstairs in the 70’s. Through it all however, one thing has remained the same, 1521 University Ave. has always been…The Virginian.

West Main resides in what is called the Inge building at 333 West Main Street .  The building was erected in 1820 in what was historically known as an African-American part of Charlottesville .  The Inge family used the main portion of the building as a grocery store while the upstairs housed the family.  Under the guidance of patriarch George P. Inge, the grocery became a hub of Charlottesville commerce, supplying most of the businesses and homes with the freshest seafood around, as well as a social center of town. Many local residents still recall coming to Inge’s Store as children to buy candy and listen to stories from the shopkeeper, who was often found in a rocking chair on the front porch. In the late 1900’s, the building passed from the Inge family’s possession, and was turned into a restaurant.  A fire in the 80’s caused extensive damage to part of the first floor.  The fire was not a total loss though, with the owners deciding not to repair one area of the floor which gives the building’s downstairs bar and entryway its unique open look.  After spending nearly a decade as a popular seafood restaurant, the building is now home to West Main , happily owned by yet another family...

Don't know much about the three building right now.