The historic building located at 113 East Main Street in downtown Floyd was originally built in 1897 to house Floyd’s very first bank, the Bank of Floyd. In the late 1920’s however, it became a restaurant, and a restaurant it has remained until the present day. Not the same restaurant, of course. A few proprietors have come and gone over the last hundred years. The only thing that has remained the same is the bank vault that sits quietly, remembering the beginning.
Since the 1980’s, this location was home to the famous Blue Ridge Café. Like all its predecessors, however, the Blue Ridge Café has stepped aside, leaving the classic building empty once again…waiting to begin a new chapter.
But it didn’t have to wait long. Kristin Spangler Crawford and her husband, Travis Crawford, recently purchased the old building. “It’s all happening so quickly,” says Travis, referring to how little time has passed since the purchase, and how little time remains till the projected opening date in October.
The decision regarding the name of the new restaurant was not an easy one for the couple. They have shared the dream of owning an eatery in Floyd for years. Of course, they had already thought of names to reflect the vision they held, but when suddenly presented with the opportunity to fill such iconic restaurant shoes, their thinking changed.
Travis and Kristin are both graduates of Floyd County High School. They grew up knowing what anyone meant when they spoke of eating at the Blue Ridge, and so they saw no reason to interfere with tradition. They decided to simply add the word Diner to the two words that were already engrained in the minds, and appetites, of the locals.
The Crawfords are not new to the food industry. They first met nearly two decades ago while working together at Tuggle’s Gap Restaurant in Floyd County. Their paths temporarily diverged, however, when Kristin left that job for one at Chateau Morrisette.
A few years later, Travis offered Kristin a job at one of the two restaurants he had purchased in the interim. It wasn’t long after Kristin started working with Travis in Radford that the two became a couple. Within the next year, however, tragedy struck when the block where Travis rented the building was razed. Although Travis had been verbally promised a place in the rebuild, that promise was ne. ver fulfilled.
It was then that the couple turned their full attention to Joe’s Diner in downtown Blacksburg. Travis had worked at the diner for both previous owners, then purchased the business when the opportunity arose.
According to Travis, Joe’s had flourished over the past dozen years, with ever-increasing sales. “That is, up until Covid.”
Due to the decision to close the Virginia Tech campus, as well as being affected by mandated virus protocols for restaurants, Joe’s Diner shut down completely in March of 2020. When conditions allowed, they re-opened for take-out only, and have since gradually increased their open days and hours.
When Kristin was asked why Joe’s Diner’s was so successful, she replied that the key is in the service. “Our food is good, but what makes us stand out is our service. The staff works as a unit, and we pride ourselves on working together to make the dining experience a good one. We’re friendly and treat our customers like family. Well, maybe better than family.” Kristin chuckles at this comment as two of her siblings already work at the Blacksburg diner and will also work at the new one. Since the new venture with Blue Ridge Diner will bring the couple’s talents back to their hometown, it will likely include additional members of the family. The Crawfords are adamant about applying all they have learned about service to their new business in Floyd.
When Kristin was asked about the menu to be served at the new location, she replied, “Breakfast is our passion!” Starting at seven in the morning, hungry customers can enjoy a full selection of breakfast comfort foods. Along with eggs any-way-you-want-them, patrons can mix and match from a full variety of breakfast meats, home fries, and biscuits – with or without gravy. Blue Ridge Diner will also offer pancakes, waffles, sandwich biscuits, and breakfast burritos.
Having a daughter getting ready to celebrate her second birthday, the Crawfords also understand the needs of their youngest patrons. Blue Ridge Diner will also offer a sure-to-please kids menu. “If the kids are happy, the entire table is happy,” says Travis. “It’s something our staff knows and understands.”
While enjoying all the great food and top-notch service, visitors to the Blue Ridge Diner will also surely appreciate their surroundings. To decorate the dining room, Kristin and Travis are planning to obtain photographs that will represent Floyd throughout time.
This entrepreneurial couple are stepping forward in faith that the food industry will survive this pandemic. Not ruling out a change in menu or hours later on, the Crawfords hope to begin operation with limited hours by the end of October; offering curbside service and whatever limited dine-in experience is permitted by the state at that time. Initially, the diner will be open from 7:00am until 2:00pm, with the selected days of the week being announced closer to the opening date.
“Although we understand the current local demand for dinner opportunities,” says Kristen, “we will be doing what we do best, for now, and that’s breakfast.”
Travis sums it up nicely. “We’re excited about doing what we love while serving our friends and neighbors in the community we love.”
“In the place we grew up,” adds Kristin. “I can’t wait to have regulars!”

Blue Ridge Diner • Kristin & Travis Crawford
113 E Main St., Floyd, VA 24091
Blueridgediner@gmail.com