A new restaurant is set to carry on the legacy of Leroy, a Washington County staple with 38 years of local goodwill. WVLT reported that the beloved restaurant is returning in a new way, a development that has stirred nostalgia among longtime diners.
The announcement puts Leroy’s legacy back in the local dining conversation, but the available report leaves key details open. It does not identify the new restaurant, its owners, location or opening date, or explain whether the return involves Leroy’s former menu, a new concept or another kind of connection to the original restaurant.
Other regional reopenings offer context
Two recent regional reports show that a restaurant’s return can take different forms, though neither establishes what is planned for Leroy. On June 18, 2026, WJHL reported that Cranberries on Knob Creek Road in Johnson City would reopen under new owner Joe Buckles. Buckles planned to keep most of its menu while making some equipment and seating changes.
In a separate Kingsport example, WJHL reported on July 29, 2026, that Giuseppe’s Italian Restaurant would reopen under new ownership after announcing its closure in May. The cited report did not give a reopening date. These are examples of other restaurants returning under new ownership, not evidence that Leroy’s plans are similar or that such reopenings are becoming more common.
For now, the confirmed detail about Leroy is its reported return in a new form after a 38-year legacy. Its name, ownership, location, opening plans and the nature of the connection to the former restaurant remain unspecified.
