Restaurant Rumble 2026: As Blue Ridge Diner reaches 'Final Fourk,' voting continues
The champions of Hometown Eats Restaurant Rumble 2025 are in the final days of defending their spots for the 2026 competition, which includes Floyd's Blue Ridge Diner. Last year, the breakfast and lunch diner on Main Street beat out restaurants from 27 other counties to become WDBJ7's "Chompion."
The champions of Hometown Eats Restaurant Rumble 2025 are in the final days of defending their spots for the 2026 competition, which includes Floyd's Blue Ridge Diner, owned by Travis Crawford and his wife Kristin. Last year, the small breakfast and lunch diner on Main Street beat out restaurants from 27 other counties to become WDBJ7's "Chompion."
In the annual Hometown Eats Rumble, Logan Sherrill of WDBJ7 takes 16 restaurants from each "division" — Lynchburg, Roanoke, Southside, and the New River Valley.
Blue Ridge Diner is currently in the final four for the 2026 competition out of the original 64 participants. They won the New River Valley division last week, coming out on top against The Mason Jar. “We're down to what they call the Final Fourk, so there's us and three other restaurants still in this restaurant rumble," Crawford said.
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The Crawfords are asking the community to continue its outpouring of support. “It blew my mind how they came out and voted for us, and it's blowing my mind how they're doing it again this year. This round will go until Tuesday (March 31) at noon, and if we happen to get lucky enough to win this round, the voting will open back up Thursday morning (April 2) at 9 o'clock.”
Travis and Kristin bought Blue Ridge Diner in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Beforehand, they owned and ran Joe’s Diner in Blacksburg for 20 years.
Crawford said that when the opportunity presented itself, he could not pass up the opportunity to run Blue Ridge in Floyd, but there were critics due to the number of restaurant closing at the time. "I said, ‘Well, we're not here to close it, we want to open it'." Crawford noted his appreciation for the support of the community, especially during the eatery's COVID-era opening. He said, the team “got it open Nov. 24, 2020. Floyd came out and supported us very well. They bought gift certificates, got to-go food, and kept us busy.”
Customers come back for two things: good food and good service. Crawford credits the hands-on people who keep the Blue Ridge Diner running smoothly. “Here in the Floyd area, you know, our greatest asset to our company is our employees because they all care — they try to work hard," he said. "They work together as a team, which makes my job a lot easier. The hardest part of my job is getting me out of bed.”
Our store offers a selection of lumber, roofing material, insulation, plumbing fixtures, electrical components, and conveniently located five minutes outside the town of Floyd.
The Diner's prize for becoming the 2025 Chompion was the Golden Skillet, which is displayed in a shadow box at the doors, and Crawford said it came a lot of bragging rights to say, "We're the best restaurant around."
Crawford said, "We already know that, so we just needed the trophy to prove it.” He said he is hopeful about winning this year's Rumble and thinks he might "ask to see if we can get a golden spatula this time.”
To vote in the current and upcoming rounds, go to www.wdbj7.com/page/hometown-eats-restaurant-rumble-2026 and log in.
