The bricks and mortar surrounding a business are more than just materials, their decades of stories seep into a brand and give it layers of flavor, like a well used cast iron pan. So when a new business forms in the shell of a zombie building, there’s always aged character baked into the new brand.
Undead, or zombie buildings, are those that sit vacant, still existing and consuming space, but devoid of their original purpose. Through creative reuse and renovation, however, they can be brought back from the dead with new identities and revitalized purpose, and sometimes spark life in a whole community.
Here are stories of five businesses in Virginia that were once zombie banks, but are now lively restaurants and hotels.
1. The Liberty Trust Hotel, Roanoke, VA
Built in 1910 in a French Renaissance style, the seven-story building first operated as the First National Bank, before becoming the known as the Liberty Trust Building in the 1920’s. After sitting vacant for several years, the building reopened in 2022 as the 54-room Liberty Trust boutique hotel, with the bank’s vault renovated into The Vault restaurant.
Photo from: libertytrusthotel.com
2. Lightfoot Restaurant, Leesburg, VA
The People’s Bank was a Romanesque revival–style building, built in 1888 by Smithmeyer and Pelz, the same architects as the Library of Congress. The bank operated in Louden County for close to 50 years, but by the 1990’s it had fallen into disrepair. In 1999 the zombie bank was refurbished as the Lightfoot Restaurant.
Photo from: lightfootrestaurant.com
3. Union Jack Pub, Winchester, VA
The Union Bank, a Victorian Italianate style building, served the people of Old Town Winchester for decades before being ‘modernized’ in the 1970’s with new aluminum facade. After sitting vacant for a decade, however, the original bank facade was brought back to life and the zombie bank was transformed into the British pub, The Union Jack, in 2009.
Photo from: https://www.theunionjackpub.com/
4. King Street Oyster Bar, Middleburg, VA
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The Neoclassical style, Middleburg National Bank, opened in 1924 in the small town of Middleburg. After the bank shuttered in the early 2000’s, the building was repurposed into a gourmet deli, before becoming the King Street Oyster bar in 2017.
Photo from: kingstreetoysterbar.com
5. Foode, Fredericksburg, VA
With origins as the Farmers’ Bank of Fredericksburg in 1820, the Federal Style, National Bank building operated as a bank for close to 194 years. President Abraham Lincoln even spoke from its steps during the civil war. After closing its doors in 2014, this zombie bank building was renovated into the local restaurant, Foode, in 2016.
Photo from: fredericksburgva.com
6. The Smoky Mug, Richmond, VA
Part coffee house, part BBQ joint, this business in Richmond's Northside neighborhood relocated in 2025 into a renovated bank building. Originally contrusted in the 1920's, the building was home to the north side branch of the State Planter's Bank & Trust for decades. A co-working space named The Brandery, occupies the upper level behind the feature window.
Original illustration by Maptacular