About Us
HOW IT BEGAN:
The Eshelman family (Pete, Alice, and Tim) are the founders and owners of Joseph Decuis. They named the restaurant in honor of their Louisiana ancestor (originally spelled Decuir) whom they credit for their belief in the power of the American Dream and the importance of perpetuating the family’s long standing tradition of fine dining. The logo honors Joseph by featuring an artful representation of his signature from his last will and testament in 1822.
Pete and Alice met in 1979 in New York City, where Pete was working for the New York Yankees and Alice was an actress. A business opportunity brought Pete and Alice to Indiana in 1986. In 1989, brother Tim left Boston to join Pete in starting a sports and entertainment insurance business, which grew to become an industry leader.
The Eshelmans entertained many clients in their home, but with a young family, Alice decided a permanent dining facility was good idea. They purchased an old bank building and converted it into a private dining facility. In their small town, word spread quickly about “great food in a bank” and the Eshelmans opened Joseph Decuis to the public in 2000.
Since 2000, the Eshelman family has expanded Joseph Decuis into a complete gourmet experience, and as a result of their downtown re-vitalization efforts, Roanoke has become a culinary destination. Truly a family passion, the Eshelmans are very involved in the day-to-day activities of all facets of the business as well as their community.
