Since April 2022, a unique Roanoke vegan restaurant has been open for business. Sir Veganni, located at 3549 Electric Road, resides in the West Village Suites.
Owner Greg Fuller says he’s the first African American to ever operate a business in the area. “I was aware of the stereotypes some would have before I ever opened my doors. More than a few times, people said they were shocked that someone who looks like me could occupy a space here,” Fuller said.
He added, “I’ve had a few white people walk in, look at me and say they were in the wrong place. The truth was they weren’t comfortable with seeing a Black man. You can’t control people’s preconceived notions. All you can do is stay true to yourself, and the rest will take care of itself. Once people taste the food, that becomes the only thing that matters.”
Serving the community healthy plant-based food is something that Fuller takes tremendous pride in. Every dish is made from scratch, with most items costing under $12.50.
Unlike some eateries, Sir Veganni does not sell any leftovers. In no particular order, Fuller says his most common requests are hamburgers with gravy, fried mushroom sandwiches, buffalo bites, oxtails, and strawberry crunch cake.
One entry that hits the spot every time for Ryan Salters is the quinoa burgers. “One day, I wanted to try something different and my sister recommended this place,” Salters said. “I was so impressed that I placed an order to take home.”
Fuller’s vegan journey began seven years ago. After realizing there were not any area vegan places that had what he was looking for, the Roanoke native decided to open his own business. “I started off by doing catering and when the demand got bigger and bigger, I took that as a sign to invest everything into my passion,” he said.
The name of the restaurant explained Fuller, “was originally called ‘the Veganaire.’ But since a business in Atlanta had already trademarked that name, I had to do some rebranding. After considering a few names, ‘Sir Veganni’ just felt right.”
As of now, Sir Vegaani has just two employees – Fuller and longtime family friend Shanika James. Every morning, Fuller arrives at his business around 8:30 a.m. to prep for whatever task is at hand that particular day.
“Everything has to be properly cleaned. We use spring water for everything. It’s super important to make sure the aesthetics are also correct,” he said. “The moves that I make are for the culture, the next generation of Black folk who look like me. Considering the lifestyle that I came from, I’m living proof that regardless of your upbringing, if you work hard and are given an opportunity, you can exceed even your own expectations.”
Sir Veganni offers new menu options every single day. For the most up-to-date information, Fuller encourages people to search for the restaurant across social media platforms.
