Ricky Patel (left) and Vimal Patel purchased the Christian’s Pizza location at The Village Shopping Center in the West End. (J. Elias O’Neal)
A local smoothie shop owner has a taste for pizza – and he may be eyeing tacos next.
Vimal Patel, whose V.N.P. Management owns two area Tropical Smoothie Café franchises, along with business partner Ricky Patel recently purchased the Christian’s Pizza location in the Village Shopping Center.
The pair closed on the sale in late August for a disclosed amount, Vimal Patel said. The deal did not involve the Christian’s Pizza location near VCU at 404 Harrison St.
“As far as locations go, this is the first shopping center you reach leaving the University of Richmond, and is close to Genworth and Altria’s headquarters,” Vimal Patel said. “It’s in a good location and was a great business opportunity.”
This is Vimal Patel’s third restaurant venture in the region. He owns Tropical Smoothie Cafés in White Oak Village in eastern Henrico and the Spring Rock Green Shopping Center in Chesterfield.
“We were actually looking for a site to open another Tropical Smoothie location, and then this opportunity presented itself,” he said.
Broker Nathan Hughes with Sperity Realty represented the seller, whose identity was not disclosed.
Christian’s Pizza, a chain launched in Charlottesville in 2001, opened the Village Shopping Center location at 7003-A Three Chopt Road in 2014, the brand’s first in Richmond. That was followed soon after by the VCU location.
As part of the sale, the buyers retain intellectual property for the chain’s recipes, equipment, tables and seating, as well as the eatery’s ABC license, which Vimal Patel said is being transferred over to the company.
“Nothing on the menu has changed. We’re still going to serve great pizza made with the same fresh ingredients,” he said, adding that they plan to install beer taps.
He said the group is investing about $100,000 to overhaul its floors, lighting, ceiling and restrooms, and adding TVs to the establishment. Richmond-based Ecalate Construction Group was tapped to handle the upfit, which Vimal Patel said he hopes to conclude in coming weeks.
“We wanted to open up the space more and make it more modern,” he said. “We got rid of the black ceiling that was here, and took out the [partition] in the middle of the walkway.”
A native of Virginia Beach, Vimal Patel also runs a Subway sandwich shop in Chesapeake. Prior to joining the Christian’s Pizza venture, Ricky Patel worked in management and operations for fast casual chains across the South, including Which Wich and Salsaritas in North Carolina.
And they’re hungry for more business.
“We’re still looking to add another Tropical Smoothie Café location in the area and are looking at several sites,” Vimal Patel said. “I want the next venture to be constructed from the ground-up, where I purchase a site and build on it so I can have a large concept.”
He said he’s also exploring the possibility of bringing a Fuzzy’s Taco Shop chain to the area.
Founded in Fort Worth, Texas, in 2003, Fuzzy’s has more than 100 franchises nationwide, specializing in tacos, burritos and enchiladas. Many are located in large college towns, including one that recently opened in Charlottesville – it’s lone Virginia location.
“I’m always looking for investment opportunities,” Vimal Patel said. “If it’s a well-known brand with good opportunities for growth, I’m going to explore it.”
Ricky Patel (left) and Vimal Patel purchased the Christian’s Pizza location at The Village Shopping Center in the West End. (J. Elias O’Neal)
A local smoothie shop owner has a taste for pizza – and he may be eyeing tacos next.
Vimal Patel, whose V.N.P. Management owns two area Tropical Smoothie Café franchises, along with business partner Ricky Patel recently purchased the Christian’s Pizza location in the Village Shopping Center.
The pair closed on the sale in late August for a disclosed amount, Vimal Patel said. The deal did not involve the Christian’s Pizza location near VCU at 404 Harrison St.
“As far as locations go, this is the first shopping center you reach leaving the University of Richmond, and is close to Genworth and Altria’s headquarters,” Vimal Patel said. “It’s in a good location and was a great business opportunity.”
This is Vimal Patel’s third restaurant venture in the region. He owns Tropical Smoothie Cafés in White Oak Village in eastern Henrico and the Spring Rock Green Shopping Center in Chesterfield.
“We were actually looking for a site to open another Tropical Smoothie location, and then this opportunity presented itself,” he said.
Broker Nathan Hughes with Sperity Realty represented the seller, whose identity was not disclosed.
Christian’s Pizza, a chain launched in Charlottesville in 2001, opened the Village Shopping Center location at 7003-A Three Chopt Road in 2014, the brand’s first in Richmond. That was followed soon after by the VCU location.
As part of the sale, the buyers retain intellectual property for the chain’s recipes, equipment, tables and seating, as well as the eatery’s ABC license, which Vimal Patel said is being transferred over to the company.
“Nothing on the menu has changed. We’re still going to serve great pizza made with the same fresh ingredients,” he said, adding that they plan to install beer taps.
He said the group is investing about $100,000 to overhaul its floors, lighting, ceiling and restrooms, and adding TVs to the establishment. Richmond-based Ecalate Construction Group was tapped to handle the upfit, which Vimal Patel said he hopes to conclude in coming weeks.
“We wanted to open up the space more and make it more modern,” he said. “We got rid of the black ceiling that was here, and took out the [partition] in the middle of the walkway.”
A native of Virginia Beach, Vimal Patel also runs a Subway sandwich shop in Chesapeake. Prior to joining the Christian’s Pizza venture, Ricky Patel worked in management and operations for fast casual chains across the South, including Which Wich and Salsaritas in North Carolina.
And they’re hungry for more business.
“We’re still looking to add another Tropical Smoothie Café location in the area and are looking at several sites,” Vimal Patel said. “I want the next venture to be constructed from the ground-up, where I purchase a site and build on it so I can have a large concept.”
He said he’s also exploring the possibility of bringing a Fuzzy’s Taco Shop chain to the area.
Founded in Fort Worth, Texas, in 2003, Fuzzy’s has more than 100 franchises nationwide, specializing in tacos, burritos and enchiladas. Many are located in large college towns, including one that recently opened in Charlottesville – it’s lone Virginia location.
“I’m always looking for investment opportunities,” Vimal Patel said. “If it’s a well-known brand with good opportunities for growth, I’m going to explore it.”