E&H Welcomes Macado's to Campus

E&H President Rosalind Reichard presents a print of the Addison's Building to Richard Macher, president of Macado’s.

E&H Welcomes Macado’s to Campus, Plans to Open Late This Summer

Emory & Henry College announced Wednesday that Macado’s, a popular regional restaurant, will be locating a franchise in a college building near the E&H campus.

Plans for the new restaurant were announced during an event in what is known in Emory as the Addison’s building just north of the E&H campus on Hillman Highway. The new restaurant is expected to begin operation by late summer of this year.

Macado’s chose Emory & Henry because of its location and because of the growing need for a restaurant in the college town, according to Richard Macher, president of Macado’s.

“We look forward to serving the students and employees of the College as well as the broader community.”

Macher listed several other advantages for the new E&H location, including a large outdoor area behind Addison’s, which would provide opportunities for special events, as well as the large, supportive crowds of E&H alumni and sports fans who visit the campus frequently. He also cited strong support from the E&H administration as part of his decision to locate in Emory.

E&H President Rosalind Reichard praised the decision by Macado’s to locate in Emory.

“Emory & Henry looks forward to continued growth in its student population and to being a part of the economic growth of eastern Washington County. This decision is an opportunity for both Emory & Henry and Macado’s to seize upon the opportunities provided by that growth and to propel it forward.”

The historic Addison’s building, which was constructed in 1912, served in the past as a post office, college cafeteria and a general store. It stood empty for several years before its conversion to a restaurant in the early 1990s. Emory & Henry, which owns the building, operated it as a deli for several years, before it was closed in 2009 and the College began searching for opportunities to lease the building.

The first Macado's restaurant was opened in 1978 by Macher in downtown Roanoke. It soon became popular for its eclectic ambiance of cartoon, antique, and local nostalgic decor, as well as its wide array of hearty yet modestly-priced sandwiches, subs, and entrees.

Popular with the college crowd, the restaurant opened additional locations near Virginia Tech, Radford University, and Roanoke College. Locations were added at the rate of one or two per year, including those in neighboring West Virginia and North Carolina. Some Macado's are located in malls, such as Mercer Mall in Bluefield, Grand Pavilion in Roanoke, and Concord Mills in North Carolina (near Lowe's Motor Speedway). Other locations cater to the downtown business crowd, such as Farmville and Galax.

Still independently-owned, Macado's now operates restaurants in Central and Southwest Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, and locations in Bristol, Tenn., and Marion, Va.