ROANOKE, Va. ā A distinctive Roanoke restaurant building has started its holy second act.
Layman Church officially moved into the former Parkers Seafood building Sunday morning. The seafood restaurant had been a Roanoke institution for nearly a century before it closed in 2018.
āItās kind of surreal," said Layman Church member Joshua Gabrielson. "I remember I used to eat my crab legs over here, and now Iām sitting here and going to church.ā
The church had previously held its services at the Valley View Grande movie theatre.
Layman Church Pastor Brian Robinson said he had worked to acquire the building shortly after the restaurant closed. He said the unconventional building is the perfect fit for his congregation.
āItās iconic, and we want to honor the Parkers legacy,ā Robinson said. "They love Jesus, and we want to honor their legacy by what we do in this building.ā
Robinson paid tribute to its former owners by renaming the building āThe Church at Parkers.ā
Reminders of the buildingās past were prevalent at Layman Churchās first service. The aquatic-themed decor is still in place, and Robinsonās sermon focused on a Biblical tale of a fishermanās encounter with Jesus.
The building is not like your classic church, but the Layman Church congregation does not mind.
āItās nice to be able to come to a home every week where I can go, āThis is refreshing. This is my house of worship,āā Gabrielson said.
āWe went from a tiny building, to a theatre, and now weāre here,ā Robinson added. āItās like growing up.ā