The Rax Roast Beef restaurant in downtown Anderson will be closing by May 6 so the owner can focus on his Anderson mayoral candidacy.
Perry Knox has owned the Rax at 1106 Main St. since 1993, although he started with the chain in 1987. The downtown Anderson location was the last remaining Rax in Indiana, although at one time Knox himself was supervising 36 Rax restaurants in the state alone. The Main Street location opened in 1983.
“I have been very fortunate to have a very good business over the years,” Knox said. “I appreciate all the support we have received over the years.”
The reason he is closing the restaurant — with seven employees — is to pursue his candidacy as mayor. Knox hasn’t officially announced his candidacy, nor has he decided which party he will be affiliated with, but he said he is committed to running.
“I ran a really good business for a lot of years and think Anderson needs someone with savvy business leadership running things,” Knox said. “I’m getting older now and feel I can best be utilized in city management.”
Anderson Economic Development Director Linda Dawson said the city knew that the restaurant may potentially close but hadn’t heard the decision had been made for certain yet.
“We are always disappointed to see a business close, especially a downtown area business,” she said. “But these decisions are made by the owner and at a corporate level and beyond any control the city might be able to offer. Dining establishments are very difficult to maintain without ample community support, and it appears most diners prefer to have a multitude of choices and end up on the south end of town.”
The news of Rax closing may be tempered by anticipation of another dining facility opening in the downtown area in the near future. Dawson was unable to elaborate on any specific details saying that would be the new business’ story to tell.
“We hope the downtown community and workers will get into a habit of supporting downtown dining,” she said. “You have to remember the old adage ‘use it or lose it.’”
The dining room of Rax is filled with memorabilia from Anderson’s past including pedal cars, Delco signs, turn of the century items manufactured in Anderson and posters, pictures and postcards depicting Anderson. Those items will be auctioned off on May 1 by Mark Volk. For more information about the auction, visit Volk’s website at www.markvolk.com.
The downtown location, while the last remaining location in Indiana, at one time was one of three Rax restaurants in Anderson. The other two were at what is now Arby’s on Broadway and the Arby’s on Scatterfield. There are 15 Rax remaining with restaurants in Kentucky, Illinois, Ohio and West Virginia.
“I encourage our friends and customers to come down and say goodbye and get a BBC,” Knox said. “We are doing whatever we can to make the transition as smooth as possible.”
Contact Abbey Doyle, 640-4805, abbey.doyle@heraldbulletin.com
