Sloan’s Restaurant
If the Gaslight Restaurant was Charlottesville’s Best, then Sloan’s Restaurant was the Friendliest. Everybody loved to go to Sloan’s.
Sloan’s was the brainchild of Mac Sloan, a beloved Policeman in Charlottesville. When Mac turned in his badge, he decided to go in the restaurant business with his sons, Dale and David. Dale and Mac opened Tiny Macs while David and Mac chose a spot for Sloan’s in the North Wing of Barracks Road Shopping Center and on day one, it was a success.
Dale and David had both played football at UVA and were well known in the community and if only their friends came, the restaurant would be packed. But everybody came. The service was first rate, and they easily had the best Grill Food in Charlottesville. I remember their hamburgers as big, fat and juicy, and this was back in the late 70’s, before the giant burgers became popular. I also enjoyed Sloan’s Reuben Sandwich and their Philly Steak and Cheese. Sloan’s stayed at the smaller location for about ten years, before moving into a larger location on Milmont Street, behind Barracks Road Shopping Center. That restaurant, too, was a great success until David left to go into the real estate business. Then, it faded away.
For 20 years, though, Sloan’s was the place to eat and the place to be.
