Grace's Place Pizzeria — Restaurant in Roanoke

I am a disabled combat veteran with a service animal and I have been coming to this establishment for 6 years and each time I've had my service dog. Tonight I was eating with my girlfriend. We came in. We sat down and started to eat and just about the time that the check came instead of the owner coming and talking to me, he sent the gentleman behind the cash register to come tell us that we needed to provide documentation or put our animals in a vest. We informed the gentleman not the owner that our dogs were service animals. We did not have to provide documentation and the fact that they could not ask that. We were then told that they make the rules for their business. In an hour, supposedly a waitress almost tripped over our dogs who were in in the same spot for an hour. We did not finish our visit. I kindly attempted to educate the owner about the Ada laws specifically in the state of Virginia. However, he kept saying sorry that you feel that way but this this is how things are going to be. For the owner of Grace's pizzeria which I have been going to for 6 years and have never been treated this way, I told them that I will never return to their establishment. Here are some information for the owner if they are man enough to read what I post. "Yes, a service dog without a vest can enter a restaurant in Virginia because the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires businesses to allow service animals in areas where customers are generally permitted:

ADA The ADA requires businesses to make "reasonable modifications" to their policies to accommodate people with disabilities. This includes allowing service animals in areas where customers are generally permitted.

No required identification There are no federal requirements for service animals to wear a vest, harness, or other identification.

Restaurant exceptions The only exception is if allowing a service dog would fundamentally alter the service being provided, but this exception doesn't apply to most restaurants. Restaurants can ask if a dog is a service dog and what tasks it performs, but they can't ask for details about the individual's disability or require proof of...

My boyfriend and I popped in for a quick, late dinner at like 8:50pm last night... our mistake, we totally missed that they closed at 9pm. We assumed closing time was a bit later, like 10pm because it was a Saturday. We've never been here before, so we weren't familiar with their hours.. and of course didn't pay attention to the sign. The guy at the register was nice, said they were closing soon. We apologized for our timing and expressed that we didnt want to put an order in to hold them up, but he assured us that a to go order was OK. There was a middle aged, thin, dark haired caucasian female employee sweeping/cleaning the lobby who was incredibly rude, though. While waiting for our food, my boyfriend was in her way at one point. He apologized and moved immediately, her response was super pleasant. But as we continued to wait, a few more people came in. There was also a table that was finishing up their meal kinda slowly. I get that she was frustrated over those things due to it being near/at closing time, but she was walking around audibly complaining or otherwise expressing her aggravation with the customers coming in/ being there near/at closing time. Like at one point, someone came in as she was sweeping near us. She slammed the broom against the wall and let out a kind of loud scream/sigh type noise as she stomped by us the turn the open sign off. Like, loud enough to startle us haha. Not a super big deal, I know. But in the moment it was just.. super inappropriate and unnecessary. The food was pretty good... but we will probably not be back anytime soon because of the way that employee acted. I've worked in retail and food service, too. For years and years. Closing time customers happen. Some on accident, though! It's just the nature of the beast. My suggestion would be to turn closing time customers away, politely, instead of taking their order then parading around in front of them as if they've insulted...

I was at Grace's this Saturday, it was a very busy day with Earth Day going on, was very surprised they did not have more people working, looks like they would have known about this ahead of time. Given everything the people working were great they seemed very happy, everyone was helping each other out. Just then a man came in and everyone just changed no smiling no light happiness, I cannot put my finger on it, everything just changed. He brought our plates to the table we tried to tell him who got what, but he could not get it. Finally we just gave up and waited till he left the table and switched plates. It was like he was on something, defiantly too much coffee, maybe. Our server keep saying I'm sorry over and over, we told her she could not help it, to forget it. Just then the young man who was working at the tables next to us, was backed up against a table, this man was in his face I could not hear all of what was being said, but I did hear him say if you do not like we can take it out side. We were very surprised we ask who is that man only to be told the owner. I could not believe it, he should be very ashamed to have good people working very hard and making the very best of a bad day, only to have him act like this. I do not know if he knows but what I witnessed was a threat and an assault. So all I have to say is if someone reads this and is look for good hard workers, go to Grace's, for they do not deserve these good hard workers. As for the pizza buy frozen you get just as good and save a lot of money. If you want to spend the money for good pizza go...