The future home of the second Brew Gastropub at Shoppes at Bellgrade in Midlothian. (Photo by Michael Thompson.)
A year after opening its first, a beer-focused restaurant is adding a second location.
Karen Verdisco, this summer, plans to expand her Brew Gastropub concept to 11400 W. Huguenot Road in the Shoppes at Bellgrade in Midlothian. She signed a five-year lease for the former caterer’s spot last month.
The addition will sit about 15 miles from the first Brew at 6525 Centralia Road in Chesterfield, which Verdisco opened last summer.
“When we were planning this in the beginning, our intention was not having one location,” Verdisco said. “We wanted multiple locations.”
At 6,600 square feet, the new Brew is more than five times larger than the first one and will have at least 60 beers on tap.
“We like to stay in the feeder markets to Richmond,” Verdisco said of why she chose to stay in the suburbs. “I think it’s an offering that works well. You don’t necessarily feel like you have to drive in the city to get 60-plus taps of craft beer.”
The expansion into Midlothian puts Brew closer to the competition. At least two other Southside beer-centric establishments, Capital Ale House and Sedona Taphouse, are within seven miles.
Brew sells entrees and appetizers from $7 to $25, in addition to wines and cocktails.
“The menu will be similar,” Verdisco said of the new location. “We definitely want to take a broader approach in terms of our offerings.”
Renovations to the new Brew space will include a new bar and fixtures, Verdisco said. She would not say how much the new venture will cost but did say it is self-financed.
Verdisco said if things go well, she would like to open another location.
Before getting into the restaurant business, Verdisco worked for 12 years at Apple REIT, a downtown real estate investment firm.
She said the transition hasn’t been without its challenges.
“The financial part I felt secure in,” Verdisco said. “Going from anything to owning your own business is a tremendous step.”
The future home of the second Brew Gastropub at Shoppes at Bellgrade in Midlothian. (Photo by Michael Thompson.)
A year after opening its first, a beer-focused restaurant is adding a second location.
Karen Verdisco, this summer, plans to expand her Brew Gastropub concept to 11400 W. Huguenot Road in the Shoppes at Bellgrade in Midlothian. She signed a five-year lease for the former caterer’s spot last month.
The addition will sit about 15 miles from the first Brew at 6525 Centralia Road in Chesterfield, which Verdisco opened last summer.
“When we were planning this in the beginning, our intention was not having one location,” Verdisco said. “We wanted multiple locations.”
At 6,600 square feet, the new Brew is more than five times larger than the first one and will have at least 60 beers on tap.
“We like to stay in the feeder markets to Richmond,” Verdisco said of why she chose to stay in the suburbs. “I think it’s an offering that works well. You don’t necessarily feel like you have to drive in the city to get 60-plus taps of craft beer.”
The expansion into Midlothian puts Brew closer to the competition. At least two other Southside beer-centric establishments, Capital Ale House and Sedona Taphouse, are within seven miles.
Brew sells entrees and appetizers from $7 to $25, in addition to wines and cocktails.
“The menu will be similar,” Verdisco said of the new location. “We definitely want to take a broader approach in terms of our offerings.”
Renovations to the new Brew space will include a new bar and fixtures, Verdisco said. She would not say how much the new venture will cost but did say it is self-financed.
Verdisco said if things go well, she would like to open another location.
Before getting into the restaurant business, Verdisco worked for 12 years at Apple REIT, a downtown real estate investment firm.
She said the transition hasn’t been without its challenges.
“The financial part I felt secure in,” Verdisco said. “Going from anything to owning your own business is a tremendous step.”