| Happy Update- Sals is re-opening in November 2009 |
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Georgia Salih and her husband, Hassen Salih, have agreed to lease their latest restaurant, Scala’s Pizzeria Taverna, to Victor Minichiello as a temporary location for his popular restaurant Sal’s By Victor. Georgia’s husband and Minichiello worked together years ago. The three have remained friends through the years. Minichiello approached the Salihs earlier this week about relocating into Scala Pizzeria. By Friday, the paperwork was signed and Minichiello was leased up. He hopes to open before Thanksgiving.  |
Fire burned all night long at Sal’s Italian Restaurant in Williamsburg Shopping Center. Williamsburg , VA. firefighters battled the flames at the strip mall on Richmond Road since 1:00 am Tuesday morning.
Firefighters from York County, City of Williamsburg, York County, Newport News, Camp Peary and James City County fire departments worked through the early morning to control a fire that broke out at Sal’s by Victor in the Williamsburg Shopping Center at the corner of Monticello and Richmond roads.
The Williamsburg Fire Department responded to a call around 1:00 am this morning to find smoke pouring from the popular pizzeria, according to early news reports.
Sal’s by Victor sustained heavy damage as did the Hallmark store and KYU Tailoring located behind the restaurant.
This has always been one of our favorite restaurants in Williamsburg, Va. Let’s see what we can do to help….
| Update on Rebuilding Sals in Williamsburg, VA Oct 2009 |
| Progress to reconstruct the burned out section of Williamsburg Shopping Center on Richmond Road has been slow going. The scorched section of the shopping center has been demolished but no permits to rebuild have been filed. Stanley Skinner, the city code compliance administrator, said property owner DLC Management needs electrical, mechanical, plumbing and building permits. Michele DeWitt, economic development director, said that the city has extended its support to DLC to make the permitting process as easy as possible. Mike Desmarais, vice president of property management for DLC, said the company hopes to have all of the permit applications filed in the next few weeks. Work could tentatively be complete in mid-April. Sal’s and Hallmark would open shortly thereafter. Victor Minichiello, owner of Sal’s, said Tuesday he still plans to reopen in the shopping center, although he is concerned about construction not being completed until spring. Why is it taking so long ???? |
| Want to Help ? |
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A fire fund account at Chesapeake Bank has been set up for the 48 employees of Sal’s by Victor. Those wishing to make a donation may do so in person at any Chesapeake Bank branch, or by mailing the donation to the bank, attention Sal’s by Victor Fire Fund, 1229 Lafayette St., Suite 202, Williamsburg, VA 23185. Checks should be made payable to the Sal’s by Victor Fire Fund. |
| Benefit Luncheon |
| Sibilla Dengs of Art Cafe 26 and Allison Marshall of A. Amsler Designs jewelry will host a luncheon 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12, to benefit employees of Sal’s by Victor restaurant. The event will be held at Art Cafe 26 in New Town. Reservations can be made at 565-7788, but walk-ins are welcome. Sibilla Dengs of Art Cafe 26 and Allison Marshall of A. Amsler Designs jewelry thanks everyone who participated in the benefit for Sal’s employees held Aug. 12. Because of the overwhelming response and ongoing need for the employees, Dengs and Marshall have decided to hold a monthly benefit at Art Cafe 26, the next one set for 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 16. Reservations are recommended, 565-7788. |
| CIAO donates Funds |
| Victor Minichiello , owner of Sal’s by Victor restaurant, received a $2,000 donation for the Sal’s Employee’s Relief Fund from members of the Colonial Italian American Organization. Any additional personal donations by CIAO members will be matched by the club to provide more money to the fund, which is being administered by Chesapeake Bank. |
| Comments |
| “Sal’s by Victor is our family’s favorite restaurant. The day after the fire , I discovered leftover lasagna from Sal’s in our fridge. I’m saving it for a special occasion.”
● “I want Victor Minichiello and his family to know that we are praying for them as well as his employees, thankful no one was killed and that the two firefighters weren’t seriously hurt. Thank God this happened when no one was in the area.” ● “We had many wonderful meals and memories and were horrified to hear the news about Sal’s. We are looking forward to the grand reopening. We love Victor Minichiello and the staff. They are in our thoughts.” ● “I was sad to hear about the fire at Sal’s by Victor, a great locally owned restaurant. I have been eating there for years and always take my out-of-town guests there. I hope the displaced staff from the stores impacted can find other jobs in the area and that the stores soon rebuild. Is there anything the community can do to help?” Have a thought or memory of Sal’s ? Post it below… |
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I am sadden to here that Sal’s by Victor burnt down this morning. My family and I ate there yesterday around 1:30p.m. Victor was there smiling and waveing to everyone. We love Sal’s. I’m so sorry for Victor’s loss. My prayers go out to him and his family. I’m concern for all of the employees that work for victor. I pray they to will over come this great loss. We as a community need to come together to rebuild this wonderful local icon. I will pray for all of you. Janet Cooke
Our family had dinner at Sal’s for the first time on Monday evening and were shocked to hear about the fire 6 hrs later. We were planning on going back to eat there again before our vacation ended.
Fortunately, we had leftovers from Monday’s dinner that we could finish on Tuesday. We so enjoyed our dinner on Monday and also meeting and chatting with the owner and staff.
We hope that the restaurant rebuilds so we can enjoy the new Sal’s by Victor on our next trip to the Williamsburg area.
I too am very sadden by this. Sal’s By Victor was ym favorite place to eat! My family and I were always going there. This is definatley a great family restaurant. I am keepying every in Victor’s family, as well as all the employees in thoughts and prayers! I wish the community of Williamsburg could come up with an idea to help them! -Chelsea Broeckel
I cannot believe this happened. My family and I moved from Williamsburg to Michigan during the summer of 2007 due to my husbands job with Anheuser-Busch. We loved it there and just loved Sal’s. That was our one and only Italian Restaurant. We still have visited the area each summer over the last two years and Sal’s is our very first dinner out. We will pray for Victor’s family as well as all the employees. Our hope is to dine at Sal’s again next summer when they re-open.
I first found Sals by Victor in 1995 when I took rail to Wbg from Schenectady NY, stayed at the Days Inn down towards W&M and walked up to this great restar\urant. We’ve a LOT of Italian eateries up in my part of the country, but I’d take SbV over any of them.
I wish the best for Victor and his employees. Always appreciated the service from “Della”, a long-time employee. I come to Wbg a few times each year, and almost always order the “Chicken Victor” dish.
Just arrived in Wbg tonight and drove over to find large white wall blocking access from parking lot near Kinkos, then drove out back and found the same. Such dissappointment – but not as much as reading here what has happened.
Good luck to everyone. I hope I’ll find SbV reopened next time I come to Wonderful Williamsburg.